explore a rare 'type E' apartment at le corbusier’s cité radieuse

a contemporary look at Cité Radieuse in marseille

This apartment inside Le Corbusier’s Cité Radieuse in Marseille reveals the spatial ambition of the iconic Unité d’Habitation through a rare double-height Type E duplex. Formed in 1966 by combining two adjacent units, the 200 square-meter residence occupies a generous slice of the concrete structure, where proportion and light govern the experience of space.

The living room rises through two levels, drawing daylight from the full-height glazing of the loggia and distributing it across timber floors and raw concrete beams. The structural frame remains visible, its rough surfaces contrasting with the warmth of wood joinery and the smooth sheen of glass. Sunlight moves steadily across the walls, tracing the texture of béton brut and the recessed niches set into the plaster.

images © Mathilde Lebreuil

le corbusier’s Modular Order

In this Le Corbusier-designed apartment, recently listed for sale, the Modulor system is legible in the height of the rooms and the placement of openings. The double-height volume establishes a vertical counterpoint to the long, horizontal sweep of the facade. From the dining area and designed by Charlotte Perriand-designed kitchen, the eye travels outward through the loggia toward Marseille and the distant hills, framed by the repetitive geometry of the brise-soleil and balcony screens.

The lower level gathers living, dining, and library functions within a continuous field. A glass-topped table with red chairs sits beneath the mezzanine edge, while a black chaise lounge rests in a shaft of afternoon light near the glazing. Built-in shelving is set flush into the wall, holding artwork and objects within timber frames that echo the building’s grid.

this rare Type E duplex apartment combines two original units within Le Corbusier’s Cité Radieuse

lofty interiors with filtered sunlight

A compact stair leads upward to a bridge-like walkway that spans the double-height space. From this elevated passage, one looks down into the living area and outward to the horizon beyond the glazing. The relationship between levels reinforces the sense of shared volume while maintaining separation between public and private zones.

The upper floor contains a main suite, additional bedrooms, and a study arranged along the corridor. Flexible partitions allow rooms to expand or contract according to use. Light filters through the tall windows and across the upper balustrade, softening the transition between levels and sustaining a consistent atmosphere throughout the duplex.

the 200 square-meter interior is defined by a double height living space