4 unités LC - Architecture Insights

The residents of the ‘Unité’ have not given up hope, however, and
have continued to promote the site of Firminy-Vert to a wider
international community to gain greater recognition of its historical
and architectural significance. The town created its own tourist
association – Le Syndicat d’Initiative de Firminy et Environs (The
Tourist Association of Firminy and Surrounds), in 1986, 22 to run
group visits and tours of ‘The Le Corbusier Site’. All Le Corbusier
projects are now classed as national historical monuments. 23
As with the ‘Unité’ of Briey-en-Forêt, the site of Firminy-Vert was
brought to greater national and international attention during the
celebration of the centenary of Le Corbusier’s birth (1987). Since
this time over three thousand people visited the site from all over
the world, 24 and an exhibition was even organised in 1993 of
artists’ installations in the disused apartments along the seventh
‘street’. 25 This attention from the artistic and architectural
communities has aided in establishing the significance of these
buildings in the eyes of the local authorities who have, ever since
the change in government, showed little to no support of the Le
Corbusier projects in Firminy-Vert.
191 192
IV.2 Ownership
116-117. Inside an apartment
in the ‘Unité’ of Firminy-Vert
today. The apartment is rented
by a young couple and their
two children. (August, 2000)
The ‘Unité’ of Firminy-Vert is the only ‘Unité’ that remains classed
entirely as a true HLM building. It has not, as a result, benefited
from the more mixed demographic and private ownerships of the
other ‘Unités’, but this does not mean that its residents do not
appreciate and respect its history, design and the ideologies it
embodies. One resident said of his experience there:
“I put in my application at the HLM office for a studio in Le
Corbusier’s Unité d’habitation. That same day I was given the
keys, …I was delighted. A large window bathed the living room in
light. I felt close to nature and open space. The view was
extraordinary both at day and at night, and I was seduced by the
architecture of the building. I had many friends that already lived
here. It’s true happimess!…” (October, 1969) 26