Cité Radieuse (Unité d'Habitation) by Le Corbusier

The Cité Radieuse, also known as the Unité d'Habitation, is Le Corbusier's concrete housing block at 280 Boulevard Michelet in the 8th arrondissement of Marseille, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. Completed in 1952, it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing of Le Corbusier's architectural work. The building stands on massive pilotis, or concrete stilts, and contains 337 duplex apartments arranged along internal corridors, with an internal shopping street at mid-height and a hotel. The rooftop terrace is the main draw for visitors: it holds a paddling pool, a gym and an open-air stage, and offers views over the city, the sea and the surrounding hills. Individual visitors can generally enter the common areas as long as residents are not disturbed, while guided visits, including the rooftop and a listed model apartment, require advance booking, and listings were inconsistent about opening days. A guided visit costs about EUR 18 for adults and EUR 12 for children aged 6 to 11, with free entry under 6, based on 2025 prices. A typical visit lasts one and a half to two hours. Architecture enthusiasts focus on the modular proportions, the colour on the loggias and the sculptural concrete forms, and good photographs can be taken from the garden looking up at the facade and from the roof. Crowds are small compared with central sites, and weekday daytimes are best for access and light. Because residents live here, visitors should keep voices low, avoid blocking corridors and respect signage. The block is south of the centre, reached by metro line 2 to Rond-Point du Prado and a bus or a fifteen-minute walk.