Odd News – The wash house

As not all accommodation had washing facilities, a wash house featuring baths and showers and a collective boiler was built in the heart of the first housing block in 1921.

The brick and cement building was previously equipped with 22 showers, 6 baths, 24 wash stands, spin-dryers and steam dryers.

The wash house was used as many as 300 times a week before buildings were renovated as part of a campaign run between 1985 and 1996.

Today this building houses the Établissement de santé et d’aide par le travail (a vocational rehabilitation centre for handicapped persons).

In an effort to improve health conditions and the residents’ well-being, a nursing and care centre for infants and children was built at No. 5, Allée des Platanes in 1937.

“Twice as much air, twice as much light, twice as much food, and half as much work”: that’s the philosophy of the Open Air School !

Thanks to these deckchairs made of almasilium—an alloy of aluminum, magnesium, and silicon—pupils can take naps on the terraces or in the playground.

Every morning, the flag is raised when the site opens : the American flag then flies above the cemetery.

On the last Sunday of May, Memorial Day is celebrated here. It is a day of tribute to all American victims who have fallen in battle around the world.

During the renovation of the swimming pool and gymnasium by Catherine Proux, heritage architect, and Laurence Mayeur, D.P.L.G. architect, many elements evoking the original use of the premises were preserved or recreated. For example, the ladders used to descend into the pool were incorporated into the new floor, which is covered with blue terrazzo evoking the surface of the water.