There is something surprising about the apparition of this 50m building designed by Le Corbusier in the middle of the countryside. The so-called Unité d'Habitation is one of the five constructions that the architect built between 1955 and 1967 for the Firminy-Vert neighbourhood. An extension of the mining town, which was thriving at the time, the whole neighbourhood is the expression of the utopia of a new town, with its swimming pool, cultural centre, stadium and church (Église St Pierre).