Hôtel Le Corbusier

spent one night at this hotel. It wasn’t indicated beforehand that the bathroom is outside the room. Although it’s considered a private bathroom, there are no locks, which was inconvenient. Overall, it’s a very average stay, fine for a quick stop, but I wouldn’t recommend it for more than that.

What a TREAT! Free to access, floors 3 and 4, and the rooftop terrace are a wonderful window into this architectural and social experiment, all wrapped into one. Definitely worth a visit.

What an amazing experience and opportunity to stay at this beautiful piece of architectural history! They are a bit understaffed but everything was ok. Air Conditioning works great, which is important for Marseille summers! The bathrooms are a bit dated and awkward, but they are landmarked and required to be preserved in original condition and design. The rest of the building is also beautiful and amazing, and there is a great architectural bookstore on the level of the hotel lobby. The rest of the building is condo/coop apt owners who live there as their home. NOTE: Before you book and stay, research when/how to get on one of the official city government tours of the building. You don't have any advantage being a hotel guest. I couldn't take either of the tours that I saw go by because I didn't pre-book.||The website to book a room is a bit clunky, but I was able to get it to work and check in was straightforward. Breakfast in the cafe on the balcony with a view is a must.||And, it's not even expensive! Highly recommend!

The manager of this hotel would be far more suited to working in a school rather than hospitality. Her system of rules - and unpleasant manner with children - make this a most inhospitable, inflexible place, rather like Miss Trunchbull’s school in the book Matilda. She told me to clear away my breakfast things with a tray (seriously, it’s almost £200 a night, I am on holidaying in a hotel which means a break from tidying up) and admonished my five year old for shrinking away from after she demanded that he say good morning. When he refused she told him that he was not interesting to her and from now on she would ignore him. Had someone so fiercely shoved their face in mine and demanded a greeting, I would not say hello either. There was also a penny pinching, inflexible approach to food and ordering which meant that: nothing was particularly nice; and one avoided eating as it meant being locked into a 3 course 60 Euro dinner menu. She would get you pay for everything up front and if you changed your mind - say about not having breakfast, there was no reimbursement. Go in order to see the history, stay one night if you must but otherwise I recommend you find a lovely welcoming place in the centre of town and avoid this hotel at all costs!!

A unique hotel in an architecturally inspiring building. The staff are amazing and so helpful and friendly. The owner Dominique is an inspiration and informative. The chef went out of his way to provide me with the most amazing vegetarian dinner which wasn't on the menu. He did it bespoke for me. The whole stay was truly amazing.

Every architecture lover will be delighted with this building. It’s a living museum with a passionate staff who works there. It is not just a hotel, it’s a history. A capsule taking you back in time.

Corb’s building didn’t disappoint from his utopian vision to the details of rough boarded concrete and imprinted modular man. Dominique the hotel owner is a force of nature and her team looked after us with wonderful meals and hospitality

Amazing place - what a privilege to be able to stay in one of Le Corbusier's finest buildings. The whole place really is stunning. I found myself just looking around and smiling at how clever the whole place is. The room itself isn't luxury but they are constrained as to what they can do as this is how Le Corbusier designed the building! It was very comfortable and the owners are fantastic.

La Maison du fada... the "house of the crazy" was what the neighborhood called it because they considered it so ugly when it was built. Like a nickname that you call that little fat girl with the buck teeth but then she grows into her body and you still call her Bucky but she is now a model, and everyone wants to sleep with her. She is also called Unite de'Habitacion and some even call her Cite Radieuse. On my first visit I immediately ascended to the rooftop sculptural garden and running track and stunning view of the Mediterranean. I met a little boy playing marbles, interested and interesting. He told me that his father is an architect and his mother is an artist and he is going to be an artist and architect. He asks me what I do...? I say that I am an artist and in architecture school. He said that he is quite sure that his father and mother want to meet me. He told me that he loves living here. He is charismatic, charming, adorable. He is 12. Nine years later I return and he is starting his career as an architect and his girlfriend is stunningly beautiful. They are both super smart, extroverts, energetic, creative... ready to take the world by storm. He tells me that he misses home, and that he appreciates what Le Corbusier created... it has added to his life, to his appreciation of great architecture and helped make him who he is today. I lived in his now empty bedroom for a week and experienced waking up in Le Corbusier's monastery for vertical living. They have a spacious corner unit, 2 stories, great light, plenty of space. They told me stories about the increasing maintenance costs, the concrete that has needed extra attention, and their commitment to this place. Le Corbusier created an island. When you live here, you feel you are chosen to be ON the island. Completely self contained bubble. Restaurant, dry cleaning, cafe, bar, haircut, ping pong tables... Super friendly people who seem to display obvious pleasure in their good fortune and good taste in choosing this amazing place to raise a family. In my world, they are all patrons of the art of architecture... likely paying way too much to repair and maintain a building which was at the forefront of technology... concrete and steel and glass. In addition to staying in one of the flats with a family, I also stayed 2 nights in one of the rentable apartments and I would say, if you love modernism or if you love someone who loves modernism, this is a treat... skinny little cells, sparse, like being on a cruise ship but without the activities, the booze and the buffets of endless food. It was reasonable but beware as the rentable rooms are super small... monastic almost, which I loved. The units are on the 3rd and 4th floor. Everything fit like a Rubik's Cube puzzle, the bed, the desk, the shelves, the bathroom... and felt like it was designed with the efficiency of a ship. It is not luxury by today's definition, though, and actually, the tiny unit I stayed in was not even comfortable. The sacrifices one must make for great art... Make sure to get a room with a view of the sea. Waking up with a view of the Mediterranean and a bright blue sky should not be missed, as long as you made the trip. This building was a breakthrough and is considered one of Le Corbusier's masterpieces in his pursuit of a Machine for Living. 1958 Interview with Le Corbusier... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQayb3glupE&feature=related Do not miss the sculptural concrete on the roof, the cafe, the shops, and making friends. I found most of the people who live here to be very friendly and very appreciative of visitors who appreciate their building. Lots of architects and artists inhabit this machine. Like anyone who chooses to live in an obscure tourist attraction, though, some were a tad cranky... but who knows, it may have had nothing to do with me. Apparently it is currently undergoing more renovations, repairs... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg9f2FLbiVM&feature=fvw