Molitor Building

Immeuble locatif à la porte Molitor is the first appartment block in the world with with glazed façades. It was designed by Le Corbusier in 1931-1934. At the Fourth International Congress of Modern Architecture in Athens, Le Corbusier claimed that the elements of planning were: the sky, trees, steel and cement, and in that order and hierarchy. He claimed that the inhabitants of a city who lived with these elements would find themselves holding what he called 'essential joys'. This building serves as a control or prototype. Building regulations in Paris at the time meant there were restrictions for the alignment of buildings to the street. The position of the site was deeply imbedded within the existent urban fabric, hence a challenge arose to design a solution which communicated to the surroundings landscape.

In July 2016, the Molitor building and several other works by Le Corbusier were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

References:

• Le Corbusier Foundation

Address

Rue Nungesser et Coli 24, Boulogne-Billancourt, France

Details

Founded: 1931-1934
Category: Miscellaneous historic sites in France