What is coulisse building?
Coulisse building is an urban layout in which buildings are placed as freestanding slabs (like theatre wings or coulisses) beside or behind one another, without forming a clearly defined street or square. The term refers to the stage wings in a theatre. Coulisse building is a characteristic feature of post-war housing developments.
Characteristics
- Freestanding blocks — buildings stand in open space, not along a street wall
- No enclosed street profile — open, undefined spaces between buildings
- Repetition — identical residential blocks in a repeating pattern
- Sun orientation — buildings often face north–south for optimum daylight
- Green spaces — plenty of public green, but often poorly defined outdoor areas
Applications
- Post-war estates — the slab housing of the 1950s–1970s is typical coulisse building
- New-build areas — some recent developments still show characteristics of coulisse building
- Modernist planning — the ideals of light, air and space led to coulisse-like site plans
- Urban renewal — coulisse building was sometimes applied during redevelopment
Criticism
Coulisse building is often criticised for its lack of spatial cohesion, anonymous outdoor spaces and impersonal streetscape. This has led to renewed interest in perimeter blocks and traditional street profiles.
Related terms
- Urban planning
- Building block
- Building line
- Zoning plan
- Frame construction
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