Construction of villas 1923-1925 (≈ 1924)
Villas La Roche and Jeanneret-Raaf built with Pierre Jeanneret
1949-1960
Disposal of property
Disposal of property 1949-1960 (≈ 1955)
Vœu de Le Corbusier formalized in 1960
1967
Establishment of the Foundation
Establishment of the Foundation 1967 (≈ 1967)
Private institution legatee of his works
28 novembre 1996
Historical monuments
Historical monuments 28 novembre 1996 (≈ 1996)
Protection of villas La Roche and Jeanneret-Raaf
2008-2009
Restoration villa La Roche
Restoration villa La Roche 2008-2009 (≈ 2009)
Work before reopening to the public
17 juillet 2016
UNESCO registration
UNESCO registration 17 juillet 2016 (≈ 2016)
17 Le Corbusier World Heritage Sites
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Le Corbusier - Architect and legatee
Founder of the Modern Movement, donor of goods
Pierre Jeanneret - Architect Collaborator
Co-designer of villas (1922-1940)
Madeleine Zillhardt - Homeowner Louise-Catherine
Owner of the project renovated in 1929
Origin and history
The Le Corbusier Foundation, located at 8-10 square of the Doctor-Blanche in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, was created in 1967 to preserve the heritage of the Franco-Swiss architect. It holds all its movable and immovable property, bequeathed according to its 1949 wishes, as well as thousands of drawings, plans, and archives (8,000 drawings, 35,000 plans, 400,000 documents). The foundation also manages emblematic sites such as villas La Roche and Jeanneret-Raaf, classified as historical monuments in 1996, and the Paris apartment of Le Corbusier.
The villa La Roche, restored in 2008-2009, exhibits collections of paintings, sculptures and furniture designed by the architect, while the villa Jeanneret-Raaf houses the seat and a library. The foundation opens its archives by appointment, supporting researchers, students and architects. She played a key role in registering 17 Le Corbusier sites for UNESCO's World Heritage in 2016, under the title "Le Corbusier Architectural Works", after unsuccessful applications in 2009 and 2011.
The foundation is also involved in the preservation of other projects related to Le Corbusier, such as the houseboat Louise-Catherine (1929), redeveloped for the Salvation Army. Its missions include the dissemination of its plastic work (paintings, tapestries, enamels) and the management of the Secretariat of the UNESCO Property Series. The villas, built between 1923 and 1925 with Pierre Jeanneret, illustrate the principles of the Modern Movement, of which Le Corbusier was a pioneer.
