Overview

In 1905 Edouard Herriot, the mayor of Lyon, named Tony Garnier as the town's official architect. He had very specific theories about architecture (see Halle Tony Garnier) and imagined a Utopian self-sufficient city (with its own housing, factories, schools, a sports stadium). There are 3 blocks of flats at 1, rue Serpollières that represent the original plan of 1925, but unfortunately budget restrictions forced Tony Garnier to cut back on open spaces and increase the surface area and the number of floors in the buildings (1928-1935). The residents of this district have joined up with local artists and contributed to the rehabilitation of the city by creating 24 frescoes of working-class life in the 19th century as well as Tony Garnier's designs for his utopian city. A show flat from the 1930's is open for public viewing (enquire at Tony Garnier museum, 8 rue Serpollières). Admission is EUR 1.5.