Manufacture Claude-et-Duval, Industrial structure and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, France
The Claude-et-Duval factory is a former hosiery manufacturing facility with a reinforced concrete structure elevated on pilotis and a glass facade shielded by concrete brise-soleil. A spacious rooftop terrace occupies the top level of the building.
After a 1944 fire destroyed the original building, Jean-Jacques Duval commissioned Le Corbusier to design this new facility, which was completed in 1951. The structure reflects Le Corbusier's commitment to rational design for industrial production.
The factory demonstrates Le Corbusier's Modulor system, where architectural measurements align with human body proportions. This design principle turned the building into a model for industrial architecture of its era.
The facility operates with a vertical production system where raw materials enter at the upper levels and flow downward through processing stages. Visitors should note that the building spans multiple levels and requires navigating stairs or ramps in certain areas.
This building remains the only industrial facility designed by Le Corbusier and is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The factory continues to operate under Duval family management and still functions as a working production site today.
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