Unité d'habitation of Briey, Modern residential complex in Val de Briey, France
This residential complex is a massive building with internal streets and hundreds of duplex apartments stacked vertically, creating a self-contained community. Inside you find a nursery school, shops, and recreational facilities, so residents have access to daily necessities without leaving the building.
The building was constructed in the late 1950s when the Lorraine mining region was expanding rapidly and needed housing for workers. Decades later it fell into disuse, but community members fought to save it from demolition rather than let it disappear.
The name honors the French architect who designed it and reflects his vision of collective living. You notice shared pathways and staircases throughout that naturally bring residents together in daily life.
The building sits on a hillside outside the main town and is accessible by car or bus, though the terrain is steep. The interior spaces feel somewhat confined and dimly lit, so allow time to slowly explore the staircases and passageways.
The building is named after the French architect who designed it and whose revolutionary ideas about communal living shaped the entire structure. Many of his concepts remain evident today and show how forward-thinking his approach was for the time.
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