Cité ouvrière les Dents de Scie, Workers housing complex in Trappes, France.
Cité ouvrière les Dents de Scie is a residential complex of 40 attached pavilions arranged in a distinctive sawtooth pattern along Avenue Marceau. Each house spans two floors with a semi-buried basement, a private garden, and direct indoor connections to outdoor spaces.
The complex was constructed between 1926 and 1931 by architects Henri and André Gutton to house railway workers during France's rail network expansion. This project became a landmark in early 20th-century workers' housing development.
The development reflects early ideas about improving workers' daily life through individual gardens and thoughtful design that connected homes to nature. Visitors can see how each house opens onto its own outdoor space, encouraging residents to engage with their surroundings.
The area is best explored on foot since the houses are directly accessible from the street and the entire layout is easy to navigate. The sawtooth pattern is most visible when viewing the complex from side angles along the avenue.
Three pavilions destroyed during World War II bombing raids were later rebuilt using reinforced concrete while keeping the original design. These reconstructed houses reveal how the complex adapted and survived beyond its initial purpose.
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