Sixty years after his death, Swiss-born architect Le Corbusier remains one of the most influential figures in the architectural space. Born Charles-Édouard Jeanneret on October 6, 1887, Le Corbusier was not just an architect, but a theorist, furniture designer and innovator with a design ethos that prioritized simplicity and functional beauty. He envisioned a world of clean lines, rational proportions and modular harmony, seeking to elevate the quality of life through better-designed spaces. His design theory, entitled “Five Points of Architecture,” became a foundational doctrine of modernist design. The five core components of modernist design are: pilotis (supporting columns), open floor plans, free façades, horizontal windows and roof gardens. The designs of Le Corbusier paved the way for today’s open-concept living and minimalist aesthetics with an eye to space and light. Below are five must-see Le Corbusier buildings around the world — each a testament to his radical legacy and enduring impact on how we design, decorate and inhabit space.

1. Villa Savoye (Poissy, France, 1931)

Perhaps the most iconic embodiment of Le Corbusier’s work, Villa Savoye is often described as the “Five Points of Architecture” manifesto made physical. Set in a clearing outside of Paris, the white, rectilinear structure hovers on slender pilotis, with ribbon windows and a flowing, open interior. The villa was revolutionary not only for its architectural clarity but also for its rethinking of domestic space by liberating rooms from walls and windows from façades. In the world of interiors, this philosophy laid the groundwork for today’s fluid, multi-use spaces and seamless indoor-outdoor transitions in luxury homes.

2. Unité d’Habitation (Marseille, France, 1952)

The Unité d’Habitation was Le Corbusier’s answer to the postwar housing crisis and presented a radical reimagining of urban living. The concrete structure, raised on chunky pilotis, contains modular apartments and each unit features double-height living rooms and balconies that create a sense of community and individuality within a larger structure. It inspired Brutalist design and sparked a wave of interest in modular interiors and flexible real estate planning.

3. Chapel of Notre-Dame du Haut (Ronchamp, France, 1955)

Breaking from his rigid formalism, the Ronchamp chapel (pictured above) is sculptural and emotive. Its swooping roof and thick asymmetrical walls form a space that feels more ancient than modern. The interior is sparse yet deeply atmospheric: Filtered light pours through small, irregularly placed windows, heightening spiritual reflection. Its influence is felt in luxury hotels and wellness spaces where simplicity, tactile materials and emotional impact are prioritized.

4. La Tourette Monastery (Éveux, France, 1960)

Le Corbusier’s final European building, the Dominican monastery of Sainte-Marie de La Tourette, is a concrete masterwork that fuses monastic austerity with radical design. Stark yet serene, the building is notable for its geometric window patterns that cast shifting shadows throughout the day. The integration of built-in furniture and the manipulation of natural light forecasted later minimalist interiors, influencing everything from luxury hotel suites to contemporary “quiet luxury” aesthetics in residential design.

5. Capitol Complex (Chandigarh, India, 1950s–60s)

India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, commissioned the Capitol Complex in the early 1950s when Chandigarh was conceived as the state of Punjab’s capital. The Capitol Complex contains the Assembly, Secretariat and High Court buildings and uses raw concrete for a striking effect. The interiors are rich in proportion and light, with bespoke furniture and bold primary color accents. Chandigarh cemented the idea that architecture could drive national identity and civic pride.