Unfortunately the dens of men, this cry was uttered in 1853 by the K.I.V.I. in the presence of King William the third, the 'requirements and furnishing' of workers' houses were in a bad state. Several managements of companies, but also charitable institutions were ahead of the government when they decided to build housing estates for 'the humble workman'. the aim of business: even more control over the worker and his family. In this book, (former) residents tell what it was like to live a stone's throw from the factory, about the recruitment of workers, the claim on the children and the director's wife inspecting the cleanliness of the stay-at-home wife. Projects of progressive housing and architectural excellence but of dubious social control