4 unités LC - Architecture Insights

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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
118. Children playing in the entry foyer of the ‘Unité’ in Firminy-Vert. In visiting the ‘Unité’ of Firminy-Vert, it is hard not to notice the pride and pure enjoyment that the residents have gained from its simple existence in spite of the hindrances they have been made to endure. For no matter how this ‘Unité’ may appear to others, it is clear that the inhabitants still appreciate the building. People stop and chat at the entry, smile and wave from their balconies, have picnics on the lawn behind, whilst children run, cycle, play and squeal with joy around the housing block they have come to call their own. 193 119. On top of the hill Les Bruneaux, the ‘Unité d’habitation’ in Firminy-Vert looks over the town that has grown gradually over the years. (June 1995)
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Isabelle Toland B Sc. (Arch) Hons.
Page 4 and 5:
Acknowledgements In writing this th
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Preface Observations and Visitation
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Introduction Singular / Plural The
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1. Dynamiting a grand barre on the
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and the CIAM (Congrès Internationa
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“in my career …I have devoted m
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The City Although during his format
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4. A sketch of the centre of Paris,
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Le Corbusier attributed certain fea
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From the design of ‘Immeubles-Vil
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12. Immeuble Locatif à la Molitor,
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1 Le Corbusier, The Marseilles Bloc
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23 The translation given in Boesige
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42 The findings of the CIAM at this
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Soleil, espace, verdure... The ‘U
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Building Blocks 20. The ‘Modulor
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Industrial Production The use of
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An Individual Home Independence 27.
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31. The ‘Unité d’habitation’
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35. A ‘brise-soleil’ on the fac
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39. A classroom of the rooftop pre-
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22 As the majority of apartments st
Page 48 and 49: 4 Unités in France / 4 Dreams + Re
Page 50 and 51: Atlantic Ocean 43. Location of the
Page 52 and 53: I. M.MI - Unité Marseille The ‘U
Page 54 and 55: Even before the completion of its c
Page 56 and 57: 50. Looking down a section of the c
Page 58 and 59: 55. View from the balcony of an apa
Page 60 and 61: I.4 Facilities The ‘Unité’ in
Page 62 and 63: The Offices Also situated on the mi
Page 64 and 65: The pool, which had been left crack
Page 66 and 67: 75. The roof terrace overrun by chi
Page 68 and 69: of the building maintenance. It was
Page 70 and 71: II. N RE - Unité Rezé-les-Nantes
Page 72 and 73: 78. The polychromatic painted ‘lo
Page 74 and 75: II.3 Context 83-84. The ‘Unité d
Page 76 and 77: The Parkland The Entry Foyer The pa
Page 78 and 79: The Rooftop School 91-92. Windows l
Page 80 and 81: The strength of the building co-ope
Page 82 and 83: were located independently, on a ne
Page 84 and 85: III.1 History The ‘Unité’ in B
Page 86 and 87: But the region was in serious econo
Page 88 and 89: 101-102. Restored interiors of apar
Page 90 and 91: The Parkland An Espace Le Corbusier
Page 92 and 93: 18 Ibid. 19 Ibid., See also article
Page 94 and 95: IV. FIR. UN - Unité Firminy-Vert
Page 96 and 97: And this was not the only problem h
Page 100 and 101: 120. Looking up to the ‘Unité’
Page 102 and 103: A more vegetated area of the parkla
Page 104 and 105: The Roof Terrace 131-132. The resur
Page 106 and 107: 1 Ragot, Gilles + Dion, Mathilde Le
Page 108 and 109: them over the past years. 32 One of
Page 110 and 111: But the ‘Unité’ of Firminy-Ver
Page 112 and 113: Appendix CHA - Unité Berlin-Charlo
Page 114 and 115: Illustration Acknowledgements 1. T
Page 116 and 117: Bibliography Affron, Matthew + Antl
Page 118: Sbriglio, Jacques, (trans. Sarah Pa
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4 unités LC - Architecture Insights

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