Lyon: Urban Utopias I: Tony Garnier and Sckyscrapers by Maurice Leroux

An urban utopia can emerge from a powerful convergence of social and economic change, decisive political intervention, and the vision of an innovative architect. In Lyon, this fusion is embodied in the work of Tony Garnier, whose Quartier des États-Unis was designed between 1920 and 1934 during a period of rapid industrial expansion. The city faced a massive influx of rural and foreign workers, and sanitary housing was critically lacking, prompting the rise of makeshift shelters near major factories. Mayor Jean-Victor Augagneur commissioned Tony Garnier to reshape the city with modern hygienic principles through major projects such as the Grange Blanche Hospital, the vast Livestock and Meat City, and the ambitious Quartier des États-Unis, named in gratitude for American participation in the First World War. During the tour, visitors will explore an original-period apartment, admire the mural artworks depicting Garnier’s utopian ideals, and discover the Tony Garnier Stadium and Livestock Hall, now a renowned concert venue. Adding a personal note, your guide — winner of a major architectural competition — designed four office buildings located just opposite this emblematic hall.