Cité expérimentale de Merlan, Experimental housing complex in Noisy-le-Sec, France
Cité expérimentale de Merlan is a residential complex in Noisy-le-Sec containing 42 individual houses built from varied materials including wood, concrete, metal, and stone in different architectural styles. Each house includes equipped kitchens, bathrooms, laundry facilities, and thoughtfully arranged spaces designed for daily life.
The Ministry of Reconstruction and Urban Planning initiated this residential project in 1945 to address housing shortages following World War II damage in France. The project served as a testing ground for experimental construction methods and materials to develop rapid rebuilding solutions.
The complex displays residential designs from seven different countries, including American, Swiss, Finnish, and French approaches developed after the war. This variety represented a gathering place for construction methods and ideas across nations, something visitors can still see in the different building styles today.
The site is best explored on foot at your own pace to see the different houses and their variations. The entire complex is relatively compact and can be comfortably seen in an afternoon visit.
The original residents were required to open their homes twice weekly for public visits, allowing architects and students to study the experimental construction methods firsthand. This unusual arrangement turned the settlement into a living classroom and hub for building innovation.
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