A number of years in the past, I noticed a black and white photograph of a run down however huge constructing in a small city known as Guise, not removed from St Quentin, within the Aisne division of Picardy. The constructing appeared palatial, and likewise somewhat bit like a Victorian manufacturing facility. It was the Familistère, a nineteenth century social housing undertaking for staff on the Godin manufacturing facility which made the well-known French forged iron stoves which can be nonetheless wanted to at the present time. I used to be intrigued by it, however at the moment, it was closed to the general public. The article I learn stated this place wasn’t nearly housing – it was a whole metropolis with amenities for some 2000 inhabitants. I dreamed of sooner or later visiting…
Properly, it’s now open to the general public following a restoration that’s taken a number of years. And it makes for a very fascinating go to.
Who was Godin
The “Familistère”, a “social palace” was constructed to accommodate the workers and their households of the Godin cast-iron range manufacturing facility. Godin fires are nonetheless made within the area and assembled on the Guise manufacturing facility, just some miles from Fresnoy-le-Grand the place Le Creuset create their iconic cast-iron cookware.
Jean-Baptiste André Godin was born in Aisne in 1817. He was the son of a locksmith and left college on the age of 11. An strange starting to his life, however his legacy is something however strange.
Aged simply 17 he moved close to Paris, and a 12 months later started to journey. On the highway for 3 years, he taught himself about structure as he went. On his journey he grew to become aware of the plight of staff and of the poor circumstances they labored and lived in. In 1840 aged 23, he married and opened his personal workshop. He filed his first patent that 12 months when he designed a revolutionary iron range recognized to at the present time as a Godin fireplace. It was an infinite success.
He outgrew his workshop and in 1846 moved the enterprise to Guise, making a foundry with about 20 staff. However that was solely the beginning.
A couple of years earlier he found ‘Foureierism’ – the idea of social science put ahead by Charles Fourier. The idea profoundly affected him. As his enterprise grew considerably, he used a few of his new discovered wealth to fund a undertaking to begin a colony in Texas. It was primarily based on Fourier’s educating – that wealth and prosperity needs to be shared with the labourers, social reform that didn’t please the French ruling courses. 150 colonists left France – academics, medical doctors and intellectuals. There was not a single agriculturist amongst them to assist begin the brand new colony.
Palace for the folks
The undertaking in Texas was an abject catastrophe. Most of the colonists died and the colony was deserted. Godin misplaced a small fortune and returned to France.
Nonetheless, he didn’t hand over on his goals however as an alternative moved them to France. In 1857 he introduced a big piece of land in Guise. On it he created a staff ‘paradise’ – a residential constructing to accommodate 1500 folks – manufacturing facility staff, staff and their households. The design of the constructing was primarily based on the palace of Versailles. Residency was voluntary, and by 1870 virtually 1000 folks lived within the palace. There wasn’t a greater, greater condo for the bosses or the administration staff, everybody was housed in line with their wants, not their place.
On web site was a laundrette, swimming pool, shops and a 600 seat theatre. It was primarily a small city inside a city. And it was inside straightforward strolling distance of Godin’s now large manufacturing facility. He additionally constructed colleges for staff youngsters and even designed a wood platform to make the pool appropriate for youngsters.
Godin known as it a social palace.
Godin’s imaginative and prescient
Godin set a ten hour working day when the norm on the time was 13-15 hours. And gave his staff Sunday off although there was no church in his city.
Staff typically earned round 150 francs per 30 days and their lease was simply 8-12 francs, a fraction of their wages leaving them extra money to spend on different issues.
He arrange a staff union.The employees determined the principles within the manufacturing facility through a collection of committees.
The lodging was spacious and hygienic, although it must be stated, some residents likened it to a jail.
It appeared like utopia.
However when he died in 1888 having misplaced his solely son simply 15 days earlier than, the operating of the manufacturing facility fell to the committees. With out his affect, all of it fell aside as infighting and disagreement took over. Finally the experiment failed with out him.
The German military occupied the positioning from 1914 to November 1918. They turned the theatre right into a jail, the central palace grew to become navy hospital and so they destroyed among the buildings.
What are you able to see now?
The Utopia Challenge started in 2002 to revive the palace and remaining buildings. It’s a triumph. You possibly can tour an condo, together with Godin’s personal condo. Take a guided tour, go to the theatre (which has an lively schedule of occasions), college and pool and uncover the extraordinary story of a person of imaginative and prescient. There’s a everlasting exhibition in addition to momentary exhibitions. Take a break within the pretty cafe on web site (with a fairly backyard terrace). And don’t miss the store the place you should purchase Godin merchandise – the well-known fires, plus kitchen merchandise together with splendidly heavy iron pans. The city of Guise is value a detour, fairly little streets and a ruined fort you’ll be able to go to.
Nearly 200 years after it’s creation, the Familistère is thoughts boggling each in its structure and as an idea that was means forward of its time.
Learn extra about what to see and do in Aisne within the free to learn: The Good Life France Journal
Particulars of the go to at: familistere.com/fr
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