Reflections on Paris I - Sniedze Riekstina

Work on Woodlands Densified project elevated my interest in urban and social architecture to a whole new level. Maybe it was the largely self-directed brief, maybe the scope, scale and detail, to which we could develop our project, by working all together, or just the shear creativity and evolution of ideas; it all inspired to look further, think broader and go beyond conventional. 

So when the opportunity came to spend the first semester of my final year on exchange in Paris, I saw it not only as an academic challenge, but an immense resource for my studies and a chance to experience for myself some of the most influential urban and residential schemes, such as that of Haussmann and Le Corbusier. 

Typical Haussmann facade

Le Corbusier - Villa La Roche-Jeanneret, Paris

Le Corbusier - Villa Savoye, Poissy

Le Corbusier - Lounge Chair in Villa Savoye, Poissy

I started my studies on Parisian housing in an experimental design studio at ENSA Paris-Belleville exploring the concept of living by the railway. This research and design process led to a further urban investigation and a subsequent thesis project focusing on revitalisation of challenging, peripheral urban sites. 

During this process I came to realize that notional and experiential perception has almost as valuable as a formal research. Spatial experience being one of the key elements in architecture is also very personal and, in a way, elusive, therefore long walks seemed like a perfect way to engage with the city. Only later, upon my return in Mac I became familiar with situationist theories and the meaning of dérives in understanding urban psychogeography.

This awareness of urban atmospheres is largely subconscious, but can be developed and applied in research and design process. The notion of local character is important for communities, thus for urban developments of any scale. What makes a neighbourhood a nice place to live in? What are the main elements used for placemaking? Are there any particular techniques or approaches that work more than others? Are there really areas in the city that cannot be reclaimed and revitalised?

To seek answer to these questions I will look at some case studies of certain housing projects that I found inspirational and that stood out, for me, as being key in revitalisation and redefinition of local communities and particular areas within the city.  By analysing them I will highlight the techniques and approaches used to re-activate the neighbourhood and encourage social interaction. I have based the choice of the precedents solely on my own city experience. These are the developments that I stumbled upon during my dérives and that seemed to be the atmospheric centres of the vicinity.

And as such I will be analysing:

Vignoles Est – residential development that also comprises gym, community roof garden by TOA Architectes Associés in Paris (XX district).

Roof garden, Vignoles Est, Paris

Halle Pajol – redevelopment of disused train outbuilding into youth hostel, auditorium, public library, retail and office units by Jourda Architectes.

Square in front of Halle Pajol, Paris

I also intend to revisit Paris to conduct a few more dérives, to test this psychogeographical method in determining the atmospheric centres of the neighbourhoods.

To be continued…..