La Grande-Motte, Montpellier, France. Architect: Jean Balladur, 1970. Context with pyramid-like structure.
La Grande Motte is a fascinating example of a purpose built 1960s holiday resort. Its jarring architecture sits in direct contrast to the surrounding swampy landscape of the Camargue, but it certainly would've given you the feeling of having arrived somewhere special. The buildings resemble cruise ships that have purposefully run aground, offering the inhabitants the same feeling of remoteness you might find out at sea. Architect Jean Balladur was inspired by the Inca pyramids of Peru. It is a rare example of a large scale project being completed by one architect. And being state sponsored it does resemble, in some ways, Harlow and Stevenage in the UK. Except of course with the addition of sun, sand, and the
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Photo credit: © Luke Hayes-VIEW / Alamy / Afripics
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