Les Courtillières, Modernist residential complex in Pantin, France
Les Courtillières is a large residential complex in Pantin with a facade stretching about 960 meters decorated by millions of colored glass enamel squares arranged in geometric patterns. The site brings together apartment blocks, a school, a childcare center, and community facilities within a single interconnected structure.
The complex was designed by architect Émile Aillaud in 1956 as part of France's response to the post-war housing shortage. It aimed to provide working-class families with quality housing combined with schools and recreational facilities.
The complex represents a mid-20th century approach to housing that integrated living spaces with schools and community services as a single system. Visitors can observe how this mixed-use design still shapes daily life in the neighborhood.
Visitors should take time to examine the facade closely and discover the variety of colored patterns that change across different sections. The best overall view of the structure can be appreciated from a distance while walking around the entire site.
During a renovation project, artist Pierre di Scullio added eleven shades of mosaic tilework to enhance the facade, strengthening the visual relationship between the building and its surroundings. This addition significantly transformed how the original design appears to visitors today.
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