III.1.3. HIGH-RISES BUILT TOO SOON

MENU: 3.1.3. High-rises built too soon

"THE OLYMPIADES," APPROVED IN 1966, ABANDONED IN 1977...

"The neighborhood needed cleaning up, but not in the way meant for the trenches of World War I. One could "renovate" on a human scale, but we got this delirious and oppressive gigantism..." 

-- Léo Malet, 1978, 

Preface to the new edition of Brouillard au pont de Tolbiac

  (Fog on the Tolbiac Bridge), 1956

The towers crush the little houses. 

Workers and craftspeople, peaceful, humble folk, modest marginals [... ] little whores with flowers in their hair [... ] people who were not very smart, probably, but who were human [... ] they no longer have a place in this technocratic universe." 

-- Brouillard sur le pont de Tolbiac, continued  

So Vietnamese refugees found

 housing that was well built and affordable.

A site that is unique

• "Chinatown" is born

• An enclave

• Autonomy

• The inspiration of royal squares

*    *    *

Next,

"Chinatown" is born

"CHINATOWN" IS BORN

REFUGEES FROM THE VIETNAM WAR ARRIVE IN 1975 

                                          Zoom         

Other Asians follow.

            Musée national de l'histoire de l'immigration  

Poster announcing prolongation of an exhibit on immigration of southeast Asians

The horizontal roofs were part of the original project...

 ...so their recalling pagodas is fortuitous and positive...

Ramsay Casadesus Rawson 

...like the Asian presence itself.

*    *    *

Next,

An enclave

AN ENCLAVE

"LES OLYMPIADES" IS ON A HEIGHT THAT DETACHES IT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD 

And color separates it from sober surroundings:

Red is another link with Asia.

*    *    *

Next,

Autonomy

AUTONOMY

OLYMPIADES IS ALMOST A TOWN 

There's a mall...

The multitude evokes community, as in Black neighborhoods.

...a supermarket, pharmacy, optician, fast foods, restaurants, social services and...

Bakery

"Sixth PRIZE

THE BEST TRADITIONAL BAGUETTE

 City of Paris, 2024

Gym

Pottery workshop

Excellent hairdresser

Coiffure Paris 13

24 rue du Javelot

Plus vast space for meetings.

 

      Activists plan a demonstration for migrants who lack official papers.

 *    *    *

 Next, 

The inspiration of royal squares