A Ville Spatiale is a multilayered structural skeleton (grid) on stilts that can be flexibly adjusted when desired. The structure is supported by columns (stilts) that are situated at an interval of 40-60 meters and which houses the accesses and facility networks. The base of the grid is 6×6 meter module that can accommodate all kinds of functions. (See also Technical aspects Ville Spatiale).
In the skeleton all sorts of units for housing and work can be fitted in. In between there is free space, arranged so, that natural light can reach the ground underneath.
Inhabitants will be free to decide how their dwelling should look. To get to a balanced combination that would serve to avoid conflicts he invented a model for communication. He designed a program of methods of choice for future inhabitants of the Ville Spatiale to enable them to create and position the living space they wanted, a so called Flatwriter. This program should enable the inhabitant to succeed in self-planning and make it possible for constructors to directly realize the dwellings without the use of an architect. (For the original explanation of the program of choice, please contact the webcurator).
A Ville Spatiale can be fitted over less used areas in a city, for instance railroad complexes. The goal is to be able to expand the city within its boundaries and without demolishing the existing buildings.
Projects and studies (links)
–Ville Spatiale, visualization of the principles, 1958-2006
–Technical aspects Ville Spatiale
–Span Over Blocks, 1957-1958
–Spatial settlements, 1959
–Early models Ville Spatiale, 1958-1962
–Urban voids, 1964, 1970, 2006
Related projects and studies (links)
>Mobile Architecture: 10 principles of spatial urbanism, 1959
>studies for Mobile Architecture, 1956-1958
>Tetrahedron
>Polyhedron
>Complexity
>Bridge Towns
>Flatwriter, 1967
>Paris Olympic, 2004
>Merz Structures, Zurich, Switzerland, 2006
>Exhibition in CAPC Bordeaux, 2008