When in France around Bordeaux and a fan of Le Corbusier architecture you should make your way to the little suburb of Pessac and visit “Cité Frugès“. Sugar producer Henry Frugès, who owned several factories in Bordeaux beginning of the 20th century, asked Le Corbusier and his cousin Pierre Jeanneret to realize a housing estate for the working class around 1923. His idea was to give employees comfortable and modern homes at reasonable cost. I wish I would own one of these extraordinary houses! 

At this time Le Corbusier was still an “architect on paper” and Henry Frugès gave him the possibility to transform his theories into real. The outcome was revolutionary! The surface area of the reinforced concrete houses ranged tom 75 to 90m² and each comprised an entrance hall, a kitchen, a living room, a bathroom with shower and toilet and two or three rooms on the upper floors. Innovations included large windows, isothermic walls, suspended gardens, heating and warm water and sometimes integrated garages. From outside, Le Corbusier decided to add dashes of colour to brighten up the neighbourhood.

Unfortunately over the years the people living there did not pay too much attention and some of the geometric shapes and volumes designed by Le Corbusier disappeared. Thanks God in 1980 one of the houses was listed as a historic monument and the city of Pessac bought “the skyscraper” to welcome visitors and to open it for the public. After a long period of neglect the city is gradually renovated by its new inhabitants today, who are often more aware of living in an architectural jewel by famous Le Corbusier. The fans of Cité Frugès are hoping that the village becomes this year part of the Unesco World Heritage.

From Bordeaux centre you may take the tramway B in direction of Pessac and get off at Pessac Centre. From there take Bus 4 to the stop Le Monteil. After a 5 minute walk you will reach Rue Le Corbusier. Check-out opening times and guided tours before going: lecorbusier.fruges@mairie-pessac.fr or call +33 557 93 65 40.  http://www.pessac.fr/cite-fruges-le-corbusier.html-0