Cité de l'Enfance, Protected heritage orphanage in Marcinelle, Belgium
The Cité de l'Enfance is a protected orphanage in Marcinelle comprising thirteen separate pavilions distributed across approximately 10 hectares of landscaped grounds. Each pavilion functioned as a self-contained family unit designed to house eight children with their caregiver.
Construction of this pioneering residential facility began in 1939 under architects Marcel Leborgne and Victor Bourgeois as an innovative approach to child care. Additional pavilions were added in 1947 to expand the original vision.
The buildings feature a warm palette of red and ocher bricks combined with flat roofs and large windows trimmed in white sandstone, creating an inviting appearance throughout the grounds.
The site is located on Avenue Mascaux in the Marcinelle district and comprises twenty single-story buildings connected by pathways through landscaped grounds. The open layout makes it easy for visitors to walk between pavilions and understand the overall design concept.
Each residential unit was managed by a dedicated caregiver who served as a maternal figure, creating a family-like environment within the larger institution. This approach was revolutionary for its time and transformed thinking about institutional child care.
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