Château-Arnoux/Saint-Auban - Workers' City
- department: Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
- municipality: Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban
- naming: Working-class city
- authors: engineers Compagnie Péchiney
- date: 1916-1962
- label patrimoine XXe: Commission régionale du patrimoine et des sites (CRPS) of 28 November 2000
The district of Saint-Auban, located 3 km from the center of the town of Château Arnoux, is crossed from north to south by the old RN 96, and limited to the east by the Durance. The working-class city was born with the Pechiney factory, installed along the river at the beginning of the 20th century. Its history is closely linked to that of the factory. The city presents itself as a green and airy residential area, with large and generous public spaces. It consists of several sectors with different morphological, architectural and urban characteristics.
The Saint Auban plant was built in great haste during the First World War to participate in the war effort. The surrounding territory is deserted. The village of Château-Arnoux is 3 km away. Very soon it is essential to build housing for workers and their families. The plan was developed in 1916 by Company engineers. The same year, the first houses emerged from the ground on the beautiful virgin plateau overlooking the Durance. These are the "Moulded Houses", named after the company that makes them. These houses are built according to a prefabrication system that does not require a foundation. They are "cubes" of one level, with roof terrace, without insulation. These houses are still standing today.
The streets of the city are laid out according to an orthogonal plan, taking into account the Mistral and the sunshine. A chapel was inaugurated for Christmas Mass 1916. A makeshift school was set up. Businesses were set up around the major axis, the Péchiney Course. By 1920, there were 220 houses and dwellings. The city was then a private property, closed by chains at the ends of the avenues. 2,000 people live in Saint-Auban at the dawn of the Second World War. In the immediate post-war period, the «old city» (Plateau sector) was completed. Grouped individual habitat is one of the main habitat characteristics in Saint-Auban. 54% of dwellings are of this type. The old city takes the model of the "Mulhousien square" set up in full industrial development in Mulhouse in 1850. Later, some general operations will expand and transform the landscape of the city.
In 1954, Saint-Auban crossed the Nationale: the Clubière, Fanchironnette and La Colline slopes were invested. In this sector, known as du Côteau, the yaw roads follow the contour lines. The SNCF builds collective dwellings for railway workers in Clubières.
In 1962, the neighborhood of La Casse was a mess. The city now includes all the facilities of a medium-sized city: stadium, swimming pool, public and private school, post office, church, party hall, cinema, public baths, adjoining town hall, hospital, maternity, training center, etc. At the end of the sixties the extension of Saint-Auban is finished. The city boundaries are pretty much the same today.
The Company gradually disengaged from 1980. In 1987, 622 units were put on sale primarily to tenants and staff on preferential terms. In 1988, the infrastructure became communal. Roads and distribution networks were brought into conformity before being transferred to the city. The sports facilities follow the same path. In 1989 the town took the name of Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban.
- Editor: Sylvie Denante
- Source: Antoine Beau, Frédéric Seltzer, Diagnostic architectural et urbain de la cité ouvrière de Saint-Auban (04), DRAC-PACA/SDAP 04, June 2006.
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