Unit DHabitation - by Le Corbusier

The Unit dHabitation

("Housing Union" or
"Housing Unit) by Le
Corbusier is a city block
within a single structure.
Modeled after the wine
rack concept, Le
Corbusier designs
identical apartment units
that slot into the concrete
frame.
Socially, the building
shelters all the aspects of
a city including shops,
sporting, medical, and
educational facilities and a
hotel to accommodate the
habitants of the 337
apartment units.

Amir Azadeh, Bi-Ying Miao, Tyler Fogel and Valerie Aiken

Site Plan:

Floor Plans:

Section:

Siting:

Self Sufficient Commune, not an

integrated part of the community, complete
with its own school (now closed), shopping
level, recreational facilities, nursery and
hotel. In a way this contributes to
sustainability, if people are able to get the
things they need in the Unite, then they will
not have to travel (potentially using gas and
money).

Le Corbusier picked the site because it is in

the heart of the Marseilles residential
district. The land is bordered by Boulevard
Michelet, a main urban artery complete with
side paths. The site is also able to give
magnificent views of the surrounding area,
in particular the sweeping vistas of the sea.

Siting:

The site itself is roughly 4 hectares gently

sloping to the east. It has been described
as a parkland setting, with plenty of
greenery surrounding the building, much of
which Le Corbusier planted. However the
building is still residing in a densely
populated area.
The surrounding trees and large
parkland setting are able to give the
inhabitants a greater sense of privacy in
such a busy area.
However, the siting of the Unite caused a
lot of controversy since it imposed on a
naturally beautiful park.
The site can be separated into three
distinct parts, with paths in between that
wrap around the structure with the aim of
showcasing the building.

Siting:

The first space is to the east of the building and

contains a public garden, and large forecourt,
complete with sculptures

The second space is the small sports area and a

childrens playground.

The third space is the car park surrounded by

trees

Siting:

The siting of the building in a beautiful and open

park area is definitely beneficial to the natural
lighting and ventilation of the space, however,
the choice to intrude upon a park was a bad
decision in terms of sustainability (and LEED
specifications)

Site selection is poor: by putting the building in

the park, Le Corbusier disrupted the existing
community space and compromised the privacy
of the residents.

The fact that this building is far away from all

others, provides adequate conditions for solar
access and passive heating and daylighting.

Siting:

Location and Linkages with respect to the Unite

are fairly good. Although the site chosen is NOT
environmentally sensitive, it is close in proximity
to existing water, sewage and roads.

The site is also in a central area, surrouded by

community resources and public transportation.
Le Corbusier actually tried to incorporate all
elements of a city into the building itself, so
people wouldnt have to leave very often.

The housing density is very high in relation to the

size of the site, which exceeds LEED standards

Siting:

Sustainable Sites: Although the use of pilotis

minimizes the distrubance of the site, the overuse
of turf greatly decreases the buildings LEED
rating in this category.

The LEED rating could be greatly improved if Le

Corbusier decided to replace grass with a more
hearty ground covering and to replace asphalt
with a more permeable material.

Site Shading:
8am

10am

14pm

16pm

Orientation of Units

Since the north side would not get any

direct sun exposure, the 2 opposite
apartment faces of the Unit naturally
face east and west. This way, every
apartment in the building gets the
same number of sunlit hours
throughout the day.

Five larger units of the Unit face the

south side. These apartments get the
most amount of natural light, and
therefore is Mediterranean in lighting
condition.

The problem here is that each unit will

get very direct sunlight in the morning
and afternoon, and nearly no light in
mid-day. This doesnt allow for a lot
of natural daylighting.

West Elevation

South Elevation

East Elevation

North Elevation

Morning Light

Afternoon Light

Contrast in Lighting
Conditions

As a result of the central interior streets that

occur every third level and the slotted
apartment units on either side, it is possible
to allow the unit facades to face two
opposing orientations.

However, even though the apartment units

get adequate lighting, the arrangement of
units around the corridor makes for a poorly
lit central interior street.

To compensate, the corridors are heavily

dependant on artificial lighting.

Shading Systems
Brise-Soleil (Breaks the sun)
Sun protection
Balconies

At each faade, Corb designs a balcony

that separates the interior space from
direct morning and afternoon light on the
east and west side.

Concrete loggias

The apartment facades are recessed

behind concrete loggias forming a space
that is the balcony.
The overhanging loggias block high
angled summer light while letting in low
angled winter rays

Horizontal concrete slabs

For the double-height balconies,

horizontal concrete slabs allow for extra
sun protection

Shading Systems

Vertical shading

Vertical concrete shading devices run

along the west faade of the Unit on the
communal services floor.
These help to shade the sunlight as the
sun moves from the east side.
Vertical shading is also used on the rooftop gymnasium

Shading Systems

Patterned walls

Decorative patterns in walls also lend to

sun protection as well as create aesthetic
appeal.
These patterned walls diffuse the harsh
lighting conditions on the east and west
facades, and increase the overall quality
of the interior environment.

Seasonal Daylighting Effects

During the summer time, direct light is blocked out by the loggias and the
horizontal shading devices on the balcony. The horizontal slabs also act as a
light shelves, reflecting diffused light into the interior environment.
In the winter time, more light is able to penetrate the faade. This allows for
natural heating and maximum exposure to sunlight.

Possible Redesign

Le Corbusier orients the Unit dHabitation so that

each unit has both an east and west facing facade.
He chooses to place apartment units on the
southern faade as well to take advantage of the
different light quality for a different type of interior
space. These decisions allow him to maintain even
natural lighting throughout the units on the building.

East

If the building was rotated 90 degrees, so that

the long faades were facing north and south,
only half of the units would be exposed to
natural light while the north side would be
plagued with darkness.
Although, redesign of the scheme by placing the
interior street along the north side, and reducing the
number of units and have them face the south side
would solve the problem of a poorly lit corridor.
However, this would significantly decrease the
number of units in the building. Seeing that
Corbusier designed the Unit dHabitation to act as
a city community, this strategy would not be
appropriate.

West

Therefore, as a service to the architects vision

for the building, the natural lighting system is
effective for apartment living.

South

Ventilation
Original Ventilation: Plan

Le Corbusier neglected to take

advantage of the possibilities of cross
ventilation in each unit.
By making the centre of the floor area very
dense, the natural air coming in from the
East and West wall of the unit was
restricted to only a small area and was
given no means to penetrate into the
central areas of the space.
This meant the areas near the East and
West walls received some ventilation, but
areas in the middle had nothing but
stagnant air.
The hall specifically receives no means of
natural ventilation.
This ventilation problem would greatly
decrease the quality of the interior
environment.

Ventilation

This image shows us the problem

created by not providing an outlet for
incoming ventilation.

The air doesnt have the chance to

penetrate deep into the space since it is
forced to turn around and leave the
same way it entered.

This is evidently the problem Le

Corbusier encounters in the Unite
DHabitation.

Ventilation
Original Ventilation: Section

Similar to the plan view, we can see that no

natural ventilation can reach the central
core of the unit. The air entering receives
no other option as an outlet, so must turn
back and leave the same way it entered.
One major problem that we see in section,
is the accumulation of heat and stagnant
air above the double height area. Since the
window above this area is inoperable, the
air is trapped in the dining and kitchen
area.
The quality of the living space is greatly
compromised by Le Corbusiers
negligence in employing the stack
effect.

Ventilation
Revamped Ventilation: Plan

To solve Le Corbusiers ventilation problem

in plan, we have proposed to open up the
floor plan and replace the necessary
dividing walls with baffled privacy screens
instead. This allows for cross ventilation
in the space. Now, the air can travel
through the building and penetrate into the
core areas of the space.
Now, rather than the air having to turn back
on itself, leaving stagnant air in the rest of
the building, the air is sucked through the
building and will provide cooling and
ventilation to the entire space.
This minor change will tremendously
increase the quality of the interior
environment of this building. Now, tenants
will be cool and will have fresh air. They
can also have control over their
environment by opening and closing
windows.

Ventilation
Revamped Ventilation: Section

To further increase the quality of the interior

space of each unit, we have also proposed to the
design in section. By simply creating a window
at the top of the double height space, which
can be operated from below, the stack effect is
employed. Air traveling through the space will
push hot air up into the second level, and the
operable window will allow that air to escape. It
may be wise to employ heat sensitive triggers
which open the windows automatically when the
air in the upper floor gets too warm.
The only problem which remains, is the
hallway. You could employ cross ventilation by
putting windows in either end of the hall, but at
this large of a scale, it may need to depend on
mechanized ventilation.
By allowing the heat and stagnant air on the
upper floor to escape, a simple operable window
causes a dramatic increase in the quality of the
interior space. Now, tenants will not suffocate on
the second floor and can control the amount of
natural ventilation they receive through operable
windows.

References:

Yoshizaka, Takamasa. Unite DHabitation, Marseille, France, 1947-52. Tokyo : A.D.A. Edita Tokyo, 1972

Le Corbusier, Carpenter Center, unit dhabitation, Firminy, and other buildings and projects, 1961-1963. New York :
Garland Pub. ; Paris : Fondation Le Corbusier, 1984.

Images

http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1367&page=12

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:BB4csNu2E_IJ:www.bwk.tue.nl/architectuur/dmw/group4/le%2520corbusier%25
20unite.htm+unite+d%27habitation+lighting&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&client=safari

www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/ajb2/workbody.html

Yoshizaka, Takamasa. Unite DHabitation, Marseille, France, 1947-52. Tokyo : A.D.A. Edita Tokyo, 1972

Le Corbusier, Carpenter Center, unit dhabitation, Firminy, and other buildings and projects, 1961-1963. New York :
Garland Pub. ; Paris : Fondation Le Corbusier, 1984.