The radient city – Marseille

Marseille is a beautiful French city located on the Mediterranean coast. Tourists from all over the world come to visit its port, its museums, its cathedrals, its fortress and, of course, the Calanques. But, have you ever heard of the Radiant City? If you like architecture, you probably know this impressive vertical concrete village. Located in Marseille and designed by Le Corbusier, this place was classified as a French historical monument in 1986 and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016. Also known as “La Maison du Fada”, this incredible concrete housing unit is well worth a visit.

The story of The Radient City

Built between 1947 and 1952, by the famous architect Le Corbusier, the Cité Radieuse is probably his most important project in this field. Le Corbusier began working on this new type of residential design as early as the 1920s. His idea was to create a new type of city. It was supposed to be a “vertical village”, where its inhabitants have everything they need within its concrete walls. Suspended on large pilings and built in rough concrete, the building has 12 floors and 337 apartments. All the apartments are located on two levels and extend from one side to the other. This vertical village is also imagined as a place that houses an indoor shopping street, a bookstore, a gallery, a restaurant, a hotel, a kindergarten and a nursery school.

An incredible roof

Conceived as a common terrace, the roof of the Radient City offers a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea. It is equipped with a small swimming pool for children, a playground and an athletics track. It is also a place where many theatrical and musical performances take place on a regular basis, as well as film screenings. Since 2013, the roof of the Cité Radieuse has been home to the MaMo (Marseille Modulor), an exciting art center. Created by Ora-Ito, a famous French designer, you will be able to visit the exhibitions of many multimedia artists from all over the world. Visitors have already had the opportunity to see the works of Alex Israel, Dan Graham and Felice Varini.

The crazy story of the minimum car

Le Corbusier’s interest in the automobile goes back to his “white period”, that of the Villa Savoye for example. At that time, he insisted that these buildings be photographed with a modern car in the foreground. Continue reading…

The Integrated Hotel

This hotel has no equivalent in Marseille, France or in the world. Designed by Le Corbusier in the heart of the Radiant City, this “vertical village” as its creator wished, it is the only hotel in Marseille housed in a building classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. More than a hotel, it is a monument of design that welcomes you and makes you share emotions that no other place, however exceptional it may be, can offer you. You are in the luxurious residential areas of the 8th district, 2 minutes from the Prado beaches or the Velodrome Stadium. When design is art, it deserves a financial effort… that remains very accessible and faithful to the social destination of the original ensemble.