Built in 1859 the Cité Émile in Lille initially bore a different name. It was known as the Cité Napoléon. This was in honor of Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte the future Emperor Napoleon III. He’d funded a similar project in Paris. His decree extended this model to other major cities.
Lille in the mid-19th century was overcrowded. The population density was incredibly high. It exceeded that of pre-Haussmann Paris. Living conditions were poor. Many lived in cramped unhealthy dwellings. Basements and attics were occupied by working-class families. Reports highlighted the unsanitary conditions. Adolphe Blanqui’s 1849 report is one example.
The city’s expansion offered a chance for improvement. Lille had annexed Wazemmes Esquermes and Moulins-Lille. The Bureau de bienfaisance and the Hospices civils owned land there. They launched a project for workers’ housing.
The Cité Napoléon a functionalist work was built on a large plot of land. It stood between several streets in Wazemmes. Despite resistance from Lille’s elite construction began in 1861. Architect Émile Vandenbergh oversaw the project. It was completed in 1863.
The complex comprised six buildings. Each housed approximately 180 people. That’s around 1000 inhabitants total. Wide courtyards separated the buildings. Bridges connected them providing access to shared services. Innovative materials were used. Iron cast iron and glass were integral to the construction.
The buildings’ layout was groundbreaking. They weren’t constrained by the plot’s boundaries. This maximized air and light for residents. This design anticipated Le Corbusier’s principles by 70 years.
The Cité Napoléon offered 276 rooms of 20 square meters each. Rent ranged from 3.50 to 5.00 francs. Preference was given to widows the infirm and workers on the indigent register. Despite its design the Cité remained a place of poverty. Its architecture wasn’t well-received. It was compared to a barracks or a prison.
The Cité philanthropique as it was renamed in 1884 underwent renovations in 1974 and rehabilitation in 2007. Today it serves as a retirement residence. The Cité Émile stands as a testament to Lille’s history. It reflects both its social challenges and its efforts toward improving living conditions for its citizens. It’s a reminder of a past struggle and a present-day commitment to care for its elderly population. And now you know the story of the Cité Émile.