16. Former “Le Peuple” printing house

The former printing works of the newspaper *Le Peuple* is one of our capital’s most iconic modernist buildings. Fernand Brunfaut, an architect and Socialist MP, designed it with his son Maxime in 1931–1932 to expand the editorial offices on Rue des Sables, which the Socialist newspaper had occupied since 1905. The finished building, which utilised modern materials such as glass and steel, perfectly reflected the Brunfauts’ progressive ideals. The large, transparent windows offered a view, day and night, of the activity within the printing works, whilst the lighting tower and the original red illuminated sign were intended to catch the eye of passers-by and supporters of the socialist movement. Inside, the original floor plans and two Linotype machines still serve as a strong reminder of the building’s original purpose, whilst the colours of the façade are echoed in the more contemporary tiling on the walls. Today, the building houses the offices and a concert hall for the PIAS record label.