Shortly after the end of the Second World War, one of the foremost architects of the time was invited to design a building to assist with the post war reconstruction of Marseille. It was Le Corbusier’s first public commission.
The building he designed was a high density experiment in urban living. Set within its own extensive grounds, it contains 337 apartments arranged over 12 storeys and accommodating 1600 people. The substantial grounds were laid to parkland with a school, car parking and other communal facilities. The building itself contained a shopping “street,” a hotel, restaurant and roof top terrace, gymnasium and other facilities in addition to the apartments.
The building encapsulates many of the ideas that Le Corbusier had been working on since the 1920’s, most significantly the standardized, modular system of construction that was to become the norm in years to come. However, the Unite is a more sophisticated piece of architecture and urban planning than first appearances may have you believe. For a start, the building contains 23 different types of apartment from one person to family units. Every apartment has a balcony and the ingenious “scissor” design, with apartments flying over or under the access corridors which occur at only every third floor, allows for dual aspect apartments, so important for natural ventilation.
The entire structure is modelled in rough cast concrete sitting atop massive pilotis carrying the weight to the ground. Post war shortage of steel prevented any other solution, but Le Corbusier’s fondness for the use of mass concrete would probably have led to this solution anyway. The rough cast (beton brut) of the concrete frame exhibiting the texture of the timber formwork was much criticized by architectural critics at the time, but has gone on to become one of the distinctive features of many famous concrete structures, perhaps most notably Denys Lasdun’s National Theatre on London’s South Bank.
The concept of a high density, mass produced, modular housing block was to prove irresistible to cash-strapped authorities struggling to erect desperately-needed post war housing in as short a time as possible. The repetition of cheap, poorly designed and shoddily built slab blocks throughout Europe was to cast a shadow over Le Corbusier and the Unite. Few were built with the same precision, careful design and care as the Unite and few had the space and social facilities that Corbusier considered essential. Where they were carefully done, by skilled hands, as at the Hallfield Estate in Paddington, they have lasted the test of time, but where shoddy, cheap replicas were thrown up, they became desperate and dangerous places that were destined to be pulled down before their time.
The Marseille Unite is still there, in fine condition, and still occupied by many of the original residents and their families. It is a testament to what could have been in our cities if the true essence of Corbusier’s vision had been grasped.
One sad postscript to ponder is that on 9 February 2012 a large fire broke out. Hundreds of firefighters took a day and a half to extinguish the fire. Eight apartments and four hotel rooms were destroyed and 35 damaged by smoke. Nobody died.
Tours of the building, daily except Sunday can be booked through the Tourist Office in Marseille or online. On Friday and Saturday mornings there are tours in English. The site is easily reached. Take the metro to Rond Point du Prado from where it is a 10 minute walk.
