Cite des Gratte-Ciel, Villeurbanne

Skyscraper City is aptly named as the buildings here are tall enough to scrape the sky. It recalls the utopian city that Tony Garnier started to build some years ago (see: Quartier des Etats Unis). Mr.Leroux began his city by building two towers at the top of the avenue then added the two "bars" of apartment blocks (1931-34). The Hôtel de ville de Villeurbanne was built at the same time and completes this perspective. Leroux used an American method to build his skyscrapers - filling a metal skeleton with bricks, making them lighter and more flexible. Just like Tony Garnier's utopian city, Skyscraper City was innovative for its time as it provided modern amenities (running water, electricity, central heating) to low-rent housing.