Le Corbusier, whose birth name was Charles-édouard Jeanneret (1887-1965), was not only a pioneer of modern architecture, but also an architect, designer, urbanist, and writer. He was born in Switzerland and became a French citizen in 1930. His career spanned five decades and his constructed buildings spanned Europe, India and America. He was an early proponent of modern high rise design and had a personal dedication to providing better living conditions for the residents of crowded cities.