Forgotten Housing Estates Of Paris Documented By Laurent Kronental
Every generation dreams of what will be, building structures of what it imagines the future will be like. For the last four years, French photographer Laurent Kronental has been documenting the lives of the senior citizens who now live in Paris’ big housing projects that were built between the 1950’s and 1980’s.
“Souvenir d’un Futur documents the life of senior citizens living in the “Grands Ensembles” (large housing projects) around Paris,” reads the artist statement. “He felt a need to examine their living conditions and shed light over a sometimes-neglected generation. Exposing these unsung and underestimated suburban areas is a means to reveal the poetry of aging environments slowly vanishing, and with them, the memory of modernist utopia.”
More info: laurentkronental.com (h/t: dyt, ignant)
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Share on FacebookThese are amazing! For some reason I thought of Inception, cause these structures look unreal! Never knew Paris had such architecture! All we usually see is the Eiffel Tower and a couple of shots from Fashion Shows. This is a discover for me! And yes, would be good to know the names of these!
http://www.wired.com/2015/11/laurent-kronental-souvenir-dun-futur-french-public-housing-nanterre/
Load More Replies...I would like to know more about the architects, to see blueprints, project details.. it's a bit sad to look at these photos, not just because of the old folk looking lonely but because it also speaks of a broken dream of a better world that we hoped to create after the atrocities of war. Post WWII architecture did thrive to produce buildings and estates with a hope of better future and better living conditions for people.. no such optimism anymore, it saddens me that we've lost it on general level
So because most of you are not french this place look nice... in fact except the architectural beauty of theses building... they are the worst projects of the small belt of Paris... unfortunately... :( and defently not the charmy place it look like on those pictures...
there is nothing charmy about these pictures.. I think they're very sad
Load More Replies...I live in the city where are taken the pictures 2,3,8 ans 16. The building in circle shape are called " Camemberts " The others buildings are " Palacio d'abraxas " The town is called Noisy-le-Grand
Load More Replies...Most countries have abandoned structures and even cities. For instance: Varosha Cyprus, a Turkish abandoned city from invasion by Turkey. Why can't these structures/cities be used for the many refugees from Syria? All well bodied people could work on the projects for housing and relocation. This would be truly a habitat for humanity.
Surprising lack of litter and graffiti ? Paris of the last 20 years has become very run down and ruined some areas are horrendous these projects look ok
I knew i recognize those, 2 & 8 were also in the last Hunger Gamehttp://www.tourisme9...ill-en-1978.jpg
Load More Replies...I am actually thinking about Detroit, MI here in the US. This city needs people and judicial structure to survive. With proper planning, Detroit could be a model habitat for humanity for our part in the refugee crisis. It would be a delight to see thriving happy families planting roots, sharing cultures, and adding to the livelihood of a once great city.
Detroit was a beautiful city when I was growing up and it is sad to see its decline. Were I younger and in better health, I'd love to return as an urban pioneer to rehabilitate some of the space now available for new uses. Just can't take the harsh winters any more. :( Yet I have read about many optimistic young people doing exactly that! So it may take awhile, but Detroit can be renewed and improved.
Load More Replies...I love the architecture but these places look very cold and sad. I'm 67 and certainly wouldn't like to walk up and down all those concrete steps. No matter how comfortable the owners/tenants have made them inside, on the outside they just look hard & sterile.
Espaces d'Abraxas et Arènes de Picasso à Noisy le Grand : http://artstreetecture.tumblr.com/post/137640948546/street-view-le-th%C3%A9%C3%A2tre-les-espaces-dabraxas http://artstreetecture.tumblr.com/post/137948190161/street-view-les-espaces-dabraxas-1978-83-by http://artstreetecture.tumblr.com/post/137641189851/street-view-ar%C3%A8nes-de-picasso-collective Cité Maurice Thorez et Les Étoiles à Ivry sur Seine : http://artstreetecture.tumblr.com/post/138044268416/street-view-cit%C3%A9-maurice-thorez-collective http://artstreetecture.tumblr.com/post/137641162811/street-view-les-%C3%A9toiles-ivry-1971-75 Les Orgues de Flandre et la cité Curial Cambrai à Paris : http://artstreetecture.tumblr.com/post/137641207636/street-view-les-orgues-de-flandre-1970-80-by http://artstreetecture.tumblr.com/post/137641018886/street-view-cit%C3%A9-curial-cambrai-collective Cité Pablo Picasso à Nanterre : http://artstreetecture.tumblr.com/post/137641133881/street-view-tours-aillaud-cit%C3%A9-pablo-picasso
Vision 80 à la Défense : http://artstreetecture.tumblr.com/post/137947975011/street-view-vision-80-mixed-use-1973-by
Load More Replies...Architecturally these places look absolutely stunning. But they are too large, too anonymous and apparently disconnected from the rest of the city. That never works, no matter how visionary the architecture. But I bet Möbius would have loved these! :-)
It seems every country and large city has at least one huge abandoned structure in its mists, including a city on the Greek Islands occupied by Turkey. Why can't these structures be put to good use and house the refugees from Syria? Abled bodied people could be put to work to revive the city - a true habitat for humanity.
These photos show elderly people living in these spaces, but the truth is they are a minority in these areas. These are the French equivalent of “ghettos”, public estates that aren’t very safe. The buildings are called les arenes de Picasso and les espaces Abraxas in a town called Noisy le Grand, eastern suburbs of paris
There is "Les Espaces d'Abraxas" at Noisy le Grand (east suburb of Paris), which was used for the movie Brazil. The colored towers are at Nanterre, closed to La Defense. But these two areas are not places for tourism, I would never advice people to stay there, it's dangerous.
They are such beautiful structures! So much detailing.. almost like a sculpture.. they must have been futuristic once upon a time.. so ironic today when you look back...
Most of these pictures are from the suburb, not in the city of Paris. 2,3,8,9 and 16 are from a city called Noisy Le Grand, about 15 kilometers from Paris.
I don't know, incredible architecture? Absolutely. But there is a post apocalyptic post nuclear war vibe to these structures. Mesmerizing, intriguing, captivating yet oddly depressing.
it was necessary to construct it, just to see what is better........ what is better ?
it was necessary to do it, just to see that an other solution is better, but which one ??????
Absolutely phenomenal. So would love to see places like these:)
It made me think about the movie The Hunger Games because of the futurist aspect of the buildings
These are beautiful pictures...are they real places? If so how could so many places remain seemingly vacant in such a crowded city as Paris?
Wonderful building GS, makes me wonder why we in England have so many ugly estates.
Nathan, don't be fooled by the pictures. These areas are dogy and grotty in real life.
Load More Replies...These are amazing! For some reason I thought of Inception, cause these structures look unreal! Never knew Paris had such architecture! All we usually see is the Eiffel Tower and a couple of shots from Fashion Shows. This is a discover for me! And yes, would be good to know the names of these!
http://www.wired.com/2015/11/laurent-kronental-souvenir-dun-futur-french-public-housing-nanterre/
Load More Replies...I would like to know more about the architects, to see blueprints, project details.. it's a bit sad to look at these photos, not just because of the old folk looking lonely but because it also speaks of a broken dream of a better world that we hoped to create after the atrocities of war. Post WWII architecture did thrive to produce buildings and estates with a hope of better future and better living conditions for people.. no such optimism anymore, it saddens me that we've lost it on general level
So because most of you are not french this place look nice... in fact except the architectural beauty of theses building... they are the worst projects of the small belt of Paris... unfortunately... :( and defently not the charmy place it look like on those pictures...
there is nothing charmy about these pictures.. I think they're very sad
Load More Replies...I live in the city where are taken the pictures 2,3,8 ans 16. The building in circle shape are called " Camemberts " The others buildings are " Palacio d'abraxas " The town is called Noisy-le-Grand
Load More Replies...Most countries have abandoned structures and even cities. For instance: Varosha Cyprus, a Turkish abandoned city from invasion by Turkey. Why can't these structures/cities be used for the many refugees from Syria? All well bodied people could work on the projects for housing and relocation. This would be truly a habitat for humanity.
Surprising lack of litter and graffiti ? Paris of the last 20 years has become very run down and ruined some areas are horrendous these projects look ok
I knew i recognize those, 2 & 8 were also in the last Hunger Gamehttp://www.tourisme9...ill-en-1978.jpg
Load More Replies...I am actually thinking about Detroit, MI here in the US. This city needs people and judicial structure to survive. With proper planning, Detroit could be a model habitat for humanity for our part in the refugee crisis. It would be a delight to see thriving happy families planting roots, sharing cultures, and adding to the livelihood of a once great city.
Detroit was a beautiful city when I was growing up and it is sad to see its decline. Were I younger and in better health, I'd love to return as an urban pioneer to rehabilitate some of the space now available for new uses. Just can't take the harsh winters any more. :( Yet I have read about many optimistic young people doing exactly that! So it may take awhile, but Detroit can be renewed and improved.
Load More Replies...I love the architecture but these places look very cold and sad. I'm 67 and certainly wouldn't like to walk up and down all those concrete steps. No matter how comfortable the owners/tenants have made them inside, on the outside they just look hard & sterile.
Espaces d'Abraxas et Arènes de Picasso à Noisy le Grand : http://artstreetecture.tumblr.com/post/137640948546/street-view-le-th%C3%A9%C3%A2tre-les-espaces-dabraxas http://artstreetecture.tumblr.com/post/137948190161/street-view-les-espaces-dabraxas-1978-83-by http://artstreetecture.tumblr.com/post/137641189851/street-view-ar%C3%A8nes-de-picasso-collective Cité Maurice Thorez et Les Étoiles à Ivry sur Seine : http://artstreetecture.tumblr.com/post/138044268416/street-view-cit%C3%A9-maurice-thorez-collective http://artstreetecture.tumblr.com/post/137641162811/street-view-les-%C3%A9toiles-ivry-1971-75 Les Orgues de Flandre et la cité Curial Cambrai à Paris : http://artstreetecture.tumblr.com/post/137641207636/street-view-les-orgues-de-flandre-1970-80-by http://artstreetecture.tumblr.com/post/137641018886/street-view-cit%C3%A9-curial-cambrai-collective Cité Pablo Picasso à Nanterre : http://artstreetecture.tumblr.com/post/137641133881/street-view-tours-aillaud-cit%C3%A9-pablo-picasso
Vision 80 à la Défense : http://artstreetecture.tumblr.com/post/137947975011/street-view-vision-80-mixed-use-1973-by
Load More Replies...Architecturally these places look absolutely stunning. But they are too large, too anonymous and apparently disconnected from the rest of the city. That never works, no matter how visionary the architecture. But I bet Möbius would have loved these! :-)
It seems every country and large city has at least one huge abandoned structure in its mists, including a city on the Greek Islands occupied by Turkey. Why can't these structures be put to good use and house the refugees from Syria? Abled bodied people could be put to work to revive the city - a true habitat for humanity.
These photos show elderly people living in these spaces, but the truth is they are a minority in these areas. These are the French equivalent of “ghettos”, public estates that aren’t very safe. The buildings are called les arenes de Picasso and les espaces Abraxas in a town called Noisy le Grand, eastern suburbs of paris
There is "Les Espaces d'Abraxas" at Noisy le Grand (east suburb of Paris), which was used for the movie Brazil. The colored towers are at Nanterre, closed to La Defense. But these two areas are not places for tourism, I would never advice people to stay there, it's dangerous.
They are such beautiful structures! So much detailing.. almost like a sculpture.. they must have been futuristic once upon a time.. so ironic today when you look back...
Most of these pictures are from the suburb, not in the city of Paris. 2,3,8,9 and 16 are from a city called Noisy Le Grand, about 15 kilometers from Paris.
I don't know, incredible architecture? Absolutely. But there is a post apocalyptic post nuclear war vibe to these structures. Mesmerizing, intriguing, captivating yet oddly depressing.
it was necessary to construct it, just to see what is better........ what is better ?
it was necessary to do it, just to see that an other solution is better, but which one ??????
Absolutely phenomenal. So would love to see places like these:)
It made me think about the movie The Hunger Games because of the futurist aspect of the buildings
These are beautiful pictures...are they real places? If so how could so many places remain seemingly vacant in such a crowded city as Paris?
Wonderful building GS, makes me wonder why we in England have so many ugly estates.
Nathan, don't be fooled by the pictures. These areas are dogy and grotty in real life.
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