Centre Scientifique de la Main d’Œuvre (Work Force Research Centre)

Project

In 1938, Le Corbusier was commissioned by the CET to redevelop the former premises of France Mutualiste on Square Jean Thebaud in Paris (between 24 rue de Cambronne and 13 rue Paul Chautard in the 15th arrondissement). The building, which extended over two perpendicular wings, was made up of a ground floor and an upper floor.

The ground floor consisted of a large reception room in the centre, with the administrative unit on the left-hand side and the medical unit on the right. The first floor consisted mainly of rooms used for tests and “psychotechnical” examinations. In the left-hand wing could be found the “collective” examination room containing five tiered rows of four seats each.

This project did not benefit from a large budget, and indeed the architect immediately offered a reduction in his fees. Even if Le Corbusier was keen to reduce costs, he took care to opt for soundproof partitions, as evidenced by numerous plans and notes. In November, the final plans were approved. Also  for economic reasons, Le Corbusier felt obliged to use “gaboon” (mahogany) for the wood veneers, but he considered this type of wood “old-fashioned and atrophied”. He then asked Joseph Savina (the sculptor from Tréguier with whom he was later to make his sculptures) to improve the aesthetic rendering of the wood veneers. In a letter written to stimulate him, he explained that this needed to be done “for the sake of the fatherland”!