Building Design this week features my photos from a recent trip to Marseille with architect Cany Ash (of practice Ash Sakula). She chose Le Corbusier’s seminal Unité d’Habitation as her “inspiration”, part of an ongoing series in the magazine.

The weather on the day was perfect, with blue skies and amazing clear views to the sea and towards the Alps. The building itself far surpassed my already great expectations. It has been allowed to age gracefully, with restoration work kept low key (the concrete in particular had a beautiful worn quality). Visiting with journalist Pamela Buxton, we were privileged to visit two apartments within the “city in the sky” including one that had retained its original fittings. The 12 storey building seems hugely popular with its residents, and the attention to detail paid in the design by Le Corbusier and his team really stands out. Residents seemed really keen to chat to us about the building, some having lived there for decades.

You can read the article here (behind paywall).