Cité de refuge, Modern shelter in Quartier de la Gare, Paris, France
Cité de Refuge is an administrative building and lodging facility in Paris's Gare neighborhood, built from reinforced concrete with large glass facades. The structure integrates heating and ventilation systems that were incorporated directly into the design.
The building was designed by Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret in 1929 for the Salvation Army and completed in 1933. It arose in response to the social need to provide shelter for people without housing.
The building shows how social welfare and modern design came together in a single project. Visitors can see how the purpose as a shelter and the innovative architectural solutions remain visibly connected in the structure.
The building is located on rue Cantagrel in the 13th arrondissement and continues to operate as a shelter with social support services. It is a protected monument that can be viewed from the street, though interior access is limited.
The main facade features extensive glass without opening windows, instead relying on a mechanical ventilation system throughout the building. This pioneering approach was one of the first uses of artificial climate control in a European structure.
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