The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier is a World Heritage Site that includes 17 building projects in seven countries created by the Franco-Swiss architect Le Corbusier. These sites show how modern architecture was used to meet the needs of society and highlight how this style spread around the world. Charles-Édouard Jeanneret (1887–1965), known as Le Corbusier, was an architect, urban planner, and writer who helped shape modern architecture. He was born in Switzerland and became a French citizen in 1930. He designed buildings in many countries and was a key figure in the 20th-century modernist movement, which introduced new building methods to address changing society. He changed how cities were planned and was a founding member of the Congrès International d'Architecture Moderne (CIAM).

Modern architecture, also called "the modern movement," was a major architectural style in the 20th century. It was based on the idea that buildings should be designed for their purpose (functionalism) and use simple, unadorned designs (minimalism). These buildings often used new materials like glass, steel, and concrete. The buildings included in this site are of many types, such as homes, apartment buildings, a factory, a chapel, a monastery, a government building, a museum, and a cultural center. These sites were added to the World Heritage List in 2016 during the 40th meeting of the World Heritage Committee in Istanbul.

Nomination history

In 2006, France added 14 properties designed by Le Corbusier to its tentative list. Other sites from five countries were also nominated and included as part of a serial site along with the French entries. In 2009, the World Heritage Committee (WHC) decided to delay its review of the properties until 2012. They requested a clearer explanation for both the selection of the sites and Le Corbusier’s influence on architecture. The International Council on Monuments and Sites, which advises UNESCO on cultural World Heritage site nominations, pointed out that leaving out urban planning schemes and public buildings in Chandigarh was a major problem in the nomination. In 2011, a revised nomination with 19 sites was submitted, but the WHC delayed its review again to allow for improvements in explaining the "outstanding universal value" of the sites. In 2015, the nomination was updated to include 17 sites, and it now included the Capitol Complex in Chandigarh. This version was accepted by the WHC, and the site was added to the World Heritage list in 2016 during the 40th session of the World Heritage Committee in Istanbul.

The selected properties were described as showing an "outstanding response to key issues in 20th-century architecture and society" and having "significantly influenced architecture in many regions." The site as a whole met criteria 1 (a masterpiece of human creativity), 2 (an important exchange of human values over time), and 6 (directly linked to ideas of global importance) for cultural sites.

In 2025, the WHC reported that the conservation status of all sites is "generally satisfactory," with maintenance and restoration work continuing at some locations and planned for others. They also asked for the next review to be completed by December 2026.