A Converted Boiler Room Designed by Le Corbusier Asks $450K in France

ByMyProperty Life

The decommissioned structure was built in the 1950s for France’s La Cité Radieuse Housing Project in Briey-en-Forêt.

When you hear the name Le Corbusier—the master designer and pioneer of the modern movement—chances are a boiler room is not the first thing that will come to mind. Yet, a tiny structure hidden near France’s border with Luxembourg offers the opportunity to own a unique piece of architectural history. Originally built for one of Le Corbusier’s famous “Unité d’habitation” housing projects, the former utility building was converted into a quirky weekend retreat years ago, and now it’s up for sale.

Built in the 1950s, the cubic structure was designed by Le Corbusier to house the coal boiler for his

Built in the 1950s, the cubic structure was designed by Le Corbusier to house the coal boiler for his “Unité d’habitation of Briey” public housing project. The structure was decommissioned and abandoned when a new boiler room was built inside the apartment building years later.

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Photo courtesy of Patrice Besse

The current owner purchased the building in its original condition and transformed it into a split-level, single family residence. The renovated structure was recently classified as a French Historical Monument, along with the rest of the housing complex.

The current owner purchased the building in its original condition and transformed it into a split-level, single family residence. The renovated structure was recently classified as a French Historical Monument, along with the rest of the housing complex. 

Photo courtesy of Patrice Besse

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Efforts to rebuild France after WWII provided Le Corbusier with the opportunity to realize his long-held ideas for communal public housing. Also known as his “Radiant City” designs, the Brutalist structures employed a high-rise concrete framework into which various apartment floor plans could be modularly arranged. 

The first and most famous of the projects was built in Marseille, in the south of France, with others locations following throughout the 1950s and 60s. The converted boiler room sits on the site of the Le Corbusier’s “Radiant City” in Briey, a small and charming town located a few hours west of Paris and bordered by thick forests.

The smooth concrete facade is adorned by a series of ribbon windows along the top of three sides. Lush greenery surrounds the building and separates it from the main housing complex.

The smooth concrete facade is adorned by a series of ribbon windows along the top of three sides. Lush greenery surrounds the building and separates it from the main housing complex.

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Photo courtesy of Patrice Besse

See the full story on Dwell.com: A Converted Boiler Room Designed by Le Corbusier Asks $450K in France
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    CASA LV1 (casa nanchi 1 y 2)
    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE CONSTRUCTION
    The Casa LV1 (casa nanchi 1 and 2), is a multi-familiar conformed by two houses constructed in the same land, the main material used for its construction was white striated concrete.
    DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY
    The Casa LV1 (casa nanchi 1 and 2) is a complex of two houses designed for a family an elderly couple, their young daughter and their granddaughter. Each house has the necessary privacy for each development, with the interrelationship and coexistence of the family; they are located in an irregular diamond-shaped land of approximately 250m2, a gradient over 10% with a view to the southeast.
    The Casa nanchi 1, on its main floor has: living room, dinning room, kitchen, bathroom, main bedroom with closet and its own bathroom, this floor is directly connected with the service area; the lower floor has a hall, two bedrooms with closet and its own bathroom; the upper floor has a roofed recreation room and a garden terrace. All the floors are connected by a stair, and has a parking lot. The total constructed surface is of 160 m2.
    The Casa nanchi 2 has on its main floor: living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom and service area; on the upper floor it has: main bedroom with closet and its own bathroom, an additional bedroom with closet, a little play room and a bathroom; on the lower floor, where the entrance is, has: two parking lots and an exterior stair which is connected to the other floors. The total constructed surface of the house is 145 m2 excluding parking lots.
    Both houses share main entrance, service yard, green spaces and services.
    The houses are named after the nanchi tree (byrosonimacrassifolia) that is located in that land; it was respected and the project was adapted around it, to make it a natural decoration for the dinning room of the Casa nanchi 1. This house was designed for an elderly couple and it has a terrace in the upper floor, which is a recreational and relaxing space with a view of the surroundings to enjoy with the company of family, friends and guests. It has a double-height space which allows the development of the tree.
    The design of the Casa nanchi 2, which was designed for the daughter and granddaughter of the family, is inspired in the Brno chair, designed by the architect Ludwig Mies van ser Rohe, which not only allows a large volume, but also an efficient and free structural principle because with this solution is obtained an overhang of 4.85 m with a support of 2.85 m, generating a space without any support under the construction.
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