Unité d'habitation de Firminy-Vert (Firminy, France) : Stairwell looking down

Creator:

Le Corbusier, 1887-1965

Published/Created:

Firminy-Vert area, Rue des Noyers, Firminy, Rhône-Alpes, France
1962-1965

Date Depicted:

2009
1950 AD - 2010 AD

Materials:

concrete
glass
steel

Notes:

The Unité d'Habitation (Housing Unit) is the name of a modernist residential housing design principle developed by Le Corbusier, with the collaboration of painter-architect Nadir Afonso. The concept formed the basis of several housing developments designed by him throughout Europe with this name. The Unité at Firminy-Vert was built to the strict cost yardstick of HLM regulations and was one of several of his buildings in this coal-mining town near Lyon. He was commissioned by Eugène Claudius-Petit, who became mayor of Firminy in 1953, to design a central ‘agora’ including a sports stadium, cultural centre and church, as well as the Unité, which he organized as an ensemble around the bowl of an abandoned quarry. The cost constraints created changes from Le Corbusier’s ideal, but the Unité at Firminy was considered very successful. The 20-storey concrete structure resembles a giant Mondrian painting, with concrete balconies accented with planes of bright colors. A primary school, now closed, occupied the top floor. It was also planned to have integrated shops as well as the school. It was continued by André Wogenscky after Le Corbusier's death.

Variant Titles:

Firminy-Vert Housing Units

Topics:

Architecture -- France -- 20th century -- (YVRC)

Period/Style:

Modern
Modernist
Twentieth century

Culture:

French

Accession Number:

1A1-LC-FV-UH-F21

Genre:

apartment houses (AAT)
architecture (AAT)

Format:

Image

Content Type:

Sculptures, Models, & Architecture

Rights:

Copyright Scott Gilchrist, Archivision, Inc
The use of this image may be subject to the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) or to site license or other rights management terms and conditions. The person using the image is liable for any infringement.

Access Restrictions:

Yale Community Only

Digital:

architecture; City planning; Housing buildings; dwellings; multiple dwellings; apartment houses; complexes; housing projects

Source Creator:

Gilchrist, Scott

Source Title:

Archivision Addition Module Six

Source Created:

2878 Chamonix, Montreal QC
Archivision, Inc.
2009

Source Note:

Purchase, Visual Resources Collection, May, 2011; photographer Scott Gilchrist

Yale Collection:

Visual Resources Collection

Digital Collection:

Visual Resources Collection

Local Record Number:

4125

OID:

10075369

PID:

digcoll:1785637