La Cité Radieuse in Marseille – A Visit to Le Corbusier’s “Maison du Fada”
- virginieinprovence
- Mar 24
- 4 min read
Hello,
My name is Angela, and I would like to tell you about the excursion I did with Virginie during my immersion in Provence.
During my second one-month French immersion in Provence, I wanted to return to Marseille, one of the most iconic cities in the south of France.
We started the day by visiting the city of Marseille, then we went up to the famous Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, which offers a beautiful view over the city and the sea.
Finally, we discovered a very special place: La Cité Radieuse, designed by Le Corbusier, also known as the Maison du Fada.
Presentation of the Cité Radieuse in Marseille
The Cité Radieuse is a building designed by the architect Le Corbusier in the 1950s in Marseille.
At the time, this project was considered revolutionary in the history of modern architecture. Le Corbusier imagined a building that would bring together everything residents might need in a single place.
The Cité Radieuse in Marseille was built in the form of a large structure raised on pilotis (columns).
It includes:
337 apartments
interior streets
more than 1,500 residents
The building functions like a vertical village.
The project seemed so bold and unusual at the time that the people of Marseille gave it a nickname: the Maison du Fada.
In Provençal, the word fada means “crazy.”
History of the Cité Radieuse
At the end of World War II, France faced a severe housing shortage.
In 1946, the French government asked Le Corbusier to design a modern housing unit.
Construction began in 1947.
The Cité Radieuse in Marseille was inaugurated on October 14, 1952.
On that same day, Eugène Claudius-Petit, Minister of Reconstruction, awarded Le Corbusier the rank of Commander of the Legion of Honour.
In 1954, the Cité became a condominium: the apartments were divided into units and sold by the state.
In 1986, part of the building was listed as a Historic Monument (including the façades, entrance hall, interior streets, one apartment, and the rooftop terrace).
Since 2016, the Cité Radieuse has also been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of Le Corbusier’s architectural work.
The architecture of the Maison du Fada
The building was constructed using raw concrete, a material that Le Corbusier particularly appreciated.
According to him, concrete does not need ornamentation — its structure is enough to create beauty.
The façade of the Cité Radieuse in Marseille is painted in primary colors, giving the building its “radiant” appearance.
To design the proportions of the building, Le Corbusier created a measurement system called the Modulor.
The Modulor is based on human body proportions, representing a man 1.83 meters tall (or 2.26 meters with his arm raised).
The apartments were designed for families, with:
one bedroom for parents
one bedroom for children
The apartments run from one side of the building to the other, allowing for large openings and plenty of natural light.
Each apartment has windows on both sides of the building.
The kitchen opens onto the living room to create a more convivial family space.
Large sliding glass windows can open completely, visually enlarging the living area.
Some furniture is integrated directly into the apartments, making it easier for families to move in — especially since many people had lost everything during the war.
The bathroom is designed to resemble a boat cabin.
A vertical village concept
The Cité Radieuse in Marseille is not just a residential building.
Le Corbusier wanted the residents to form a real community.
The building measures:
137 meters long
56 meters high
24 meters wide
The Maison du Fada also includes:
offices
several shops
a café
During our visit, the bakery had unfortunately just closed and was looking for a new owner.
On the rooftop terrace, there is also:
a school
a swimming pool
sports areas
a place where people can watch films
During our visit, I also noticed mosaics by Space Invader, a famous street artist.
Over time, the Cité Radieuse in Marseille has lost its original role as social housing and has become a highly sought-after building.
Le Corbusier truly wanted the residents to form a strong community.
Visiting the Cité Radieuse in Marseille
For me, the Cité Radieuse designed by Le Corbusier is a fascinating and unusual place to visit in Marseille.
It is a unique building where you can discover modern architecture, post-war history, and an original vision of collective living.
I highly recommend visiting it if you have time during your stay in Provence.
If you come to stay with me for a French immersion experience in Provence, I will introduce you to the many aspects of the region: landscapes, scents, culture, and gastronomy, while helping you improve your French naturally.
See you soon in Provence 🌿
Virginie in Provence
Read also
👉 Discover Marseille during a French immersion stay in Provence
👉 A typical day in my immersion program in Provence
👉 Why choose a French immersion in Provence to learn Fren
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