My most memorable encounter with Le Corbusier’s architecture was in Chandigarh, a city he designed in India. So, I was fascinated to read about La Cité Radieuse in Marseille, a pioneering mid-20th-century residential building also designed by Le Corbusier.
After World War II, there was a severe housing shortage in France. Le Corbusier’s responded to the housing crisis. He saw this as a chance to rethink urban living.
Le Corbusier, with painter-architect Nadir Afonso, came up with the concept of the Unité d’habitation (housing unit). This became the basis of several housing developments throughout Europe designed by Le Corbusier in the 1950s and 1960s.
La Cité Radieuse was the first and most famous of the Unité d’habitation buildings.
Although criticized at the time, Le Corbusier’s Cité Radieuse (radiant city) became a landmark of architecture. It’s now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Le Corbusier wanted to create a “vertical city” where residents could live, shop, socialise, exercise and access services. The second and third floor have “streets” with shops, restaurants and a hotel — all open to the public.
Also accessible to the public is the roof terrace, from which there are panoramic views of the city. On the roof is a nursery school, a gym, a pool, and a running track. They also have regular exhibitions.
The building became a prototype for other buildings in France and Germany. Many of the imitators copied just the appearance but not the social principles Le Corbusier had set out.
In the afternoon, I had a late lunch/early dinner at Mauvaise Herbe Bistrot. This was recommended by someone at Hododa, where I ate a few days ago. When the server went through the options, none of them stood out. Someone at the next table was finishing their meal. The server said it was a pasta dish, which I thought was a little boring but it looked good.
The tomato sauce and aubergine balls were unbelievably delicious! I understand now why people raved about the place. I spoke to the chef afterwards. The ingredients didn’t sound unusual but I suspect their freshness made the difference.
I finished with a latte and strawberry tart.
