La Première Rue

Art at the Heart of Le Corbusier

La Première Rue is a unique cultural association, established in 1989 on the first floor of the Unité d'habitation of Briey-en-Forêt, an architectural masterpiece by Le Corbusier inaugurated in 1961. Founded by about thirty international architects and artists, its mission is to protect, promote, and showcase this major architectural heritage while developing a demanding cultural program within it.

A Singular Exhibition Space

The association has several enfilade duplex apartments, arranged along the characteristic corridor that Le Corbusier called a 'street' – hence the association's name. These atypical, light-filled spaces provide a remarkable setting for temporary exhibitions presented in the Galerie Blanche.

Exhibitions and Visual Arts

Each year, La Première Rue programs several exhibitions of contemporary art, architecture, and graphic arts. Invited artists engage in dialogue with Le Corbusier's brutalist architecture, creating fruitful confrontations between heritage and contemporary creation. International figures such as Peter Joseph and André Wogenscky have exhibited in these historic venues.

Concerts and Performances

The program is not limited to visual arts: concerts of progressive, contemporary, and classical music, as well as small theater performances come to life in the spaces of the Cité Radieuse, offering an immersive experience where art and architecture become one.

Conferences and Meetings

Conferences on modern architecture, urbanism, and contemporary art trends allow for deeper reflection on the relationship between housing, creation, and society. Researchers, architects, and art historians regularly participate.

Guided Tours

La Première Rue offers guided tours of the Unité d'habitation, allowing the public to discover this monument listed in the Inventory of Historic Monuments. Visitors explore the corridors, duplex apartments, roof terrace, and common areas designed by Le Corbusier, immersing themselves in the architectural utopia of the Modern Movement.

A Place of Cultural Outreach

A place for immersion and creation, La Première Rue welcomes students, researchers, architects, and art lovers from around the world. The association contributes to the cultural outreach of Val-de-Briey and Meurthe-et-Moselle, making the Cité Radieuse a vibrant and attractive cultural hub in the Grand Est region.