The Aérohabitat is a residence located in Algiers, built between 1952 and 1955 by Louis Miquel and José Ferrer-Laloë. Constructed as a raised horizontal block, it aimed to materialize a new form of city, a "vertical village" called Unité d'habitation (Housing Unit). It consists of four buildings and 300 apartments.
Aérohabitat | |
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| Location | Algiers |
|---|---|
| Designer | Lucien Pierre-Marie |
| Inauguration date | May 21, 1955 |
History
editThe construction of the Aérohabitat is attributed to Louis Miquel, along with Pierre Bourlier and José Ferrer-Laloë,[1] all members of CIAM-Algiers (International Congresses of Modern Architecture). The construction work began in late 1951, and the Aérohabitat was inaugurated by the Minister of Reconstruction and Urbanism, Eugène Claudius-Petit, on May 21, 1955. The buildings started to be occupied afterward, except for the tunnel passage under Building 2 and the unfinished fencing.[2]
Architecture
editThe Aérohabitat falls within the concept of "immeuble-villas" initiated by the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier.[2]
Miquel incorporated the principle of an interior street at mid-height of the main building, resembling a commercial gallery.[2]
In contrast to Le Corbusier's concept of internal circulation, Miquel opted for an exterior circulation system that serves the apartments.
The residence consists of four buildings and 300 apartments.
References
edit- ^ "Aéro-habitat". mutualheritage-alger.univ-tours.fr. 12 August 2023.
- ^ a b c Stambouli, Nabila (2014-06-10). "L'Aéro-habitat, avatar d'un monument classé ?". Livraisons de l'histoire de l'architecture (in French) (27): 117–127. doi:10.4000/lha.382. ISSN 1627-4970.
