This project was inspired by the Familistère in Guise. An example of collective living from the 19th century, it was built by Jean-Bapitiste Andre Godin who bought a plot of land in the village of Guise and started a factory there. Godin created a “palais social” where anyone, from director to worker, could rent a house. The building had a central courtyard under a glass roof. The residents lived a comfortable and luxurious life, certainly by the standards of that time, with running water and heating. Godin thus realised a 19^th-century utopia and assumed that residents who worked, lived and socialised together in this way could help each other’s development and complement each other in a natural way.

In the atrium there is a prominent staircase that connects the houses with an inner garden, the bicycle shed, the porticos and car parking. The routing to your home leads through this central green inner garden, past your fellow residents, via the stairs and the galleries that can be used as a collective balcony.

Result
Familistère is a place where anyone can rent a house with all the amenities. Where residents can work, live and socialise together. And whose impact on the environment remains limited. By making smart use of every square metre, we bundle housing needs and bring multiple functions together in one place. This is reflected in various places in the design of Familistère. For example, like Godin, we have an atrium – a central courtyard under a glass roof. This is not only a place to come together, but also a space for greenery, for relaxation and for exercise. It contributes to circularity, helps limit energy consumption and ensures the living comfort of residents throughout the year.