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5.17.2025

Le Corbusier's Maison de la Culture in Firminy, France


Of the several buildings designed for Firminy, Culture House was the only one completed (1961-1965) while Le Corbusier was alive. The building has a striking, asymmetrically arcing profile, the roof originally intended to be green and seeded by wind and fowl. The bay windows are similar to those at La Tourette and were the result of a collab with the architect, musician, and mathematician Iannis Xenakis. One side of the building overlooks a soccer pitch at elevation (the site used to be a rock quarry).

We strolled over to it from Saint Pierr. Corbu loved ramps (certainly ahead of his time on assessiblity!), so entry into the building is 'round back and up a ramp. Inside is a music room, an auditorium, a theater, and an art room. Downstairs is a bar and a dance room. 

The place looks like something out of Star Wars or, perhaps even better, the recent Brutalist-heavy Dune movies.  Trails are marked with Corbu-designed park benches.



















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