Fig. 76 - Aerial photo of Paris Source: Google Maps
4.1 | Introduction Master thesis addresses the historic site of Cité de la Muette from multiple perspectives: To begin with urban scale, site is located in the strategic center of the Drancy neighborhood on the crossroad of two main commercial axes: Av. Jean Jaures (RD 30) and Av. Henri Barbusse (RD 116). According to Drancy Local Urban Plan these streets will be needing further densification and development in the years to come. Additionally, Cité de la Muette is first of many large-scale housing estates which are scattered around the neighborhood. Research shows that leaving conditions as well as quality of infrastructure of many of this, once innovative, complexes has been declined over the years and there will be need of reimagining them in today’s contemporary urban environment. Additional aspect is the concentration of large number of immigrant population in the neighborhood and la Muette complex, which can be cause of marginalization of its population. Developed thesis project not only transforms the existing housing complex to improve its leaving environment but also proposes densification of its courtyard by adding new public functions which could be used on a neighborhood level and also attract people of various interests to the site. Additional factor which would be impossible to neglect is a threefold identity of the The Cité de la Muette: associated with the history of twentieth-century architecture and urban
planning, a lieu de mémoire of Holocaust-era internment and deportation, and a lieu de vie for present-day banlieue residents. Project develops interesting solution to complex issue of identity and memory: Thesis acknowledges existing housing complex as an innovative architectural and urban heritage of modernism, however at the same time project is developed with awareness of drawbacks of modernist tradition and reacts to it with the new design. Existing complex has extremely large dimensions, homogenous white façade is stretched along 200 meters, plan of the complex is also uniform, with 1-bedroom apartments and studios, all of which have the same unit of measure, and lastly, the complex has a large open courtyard (190x80 meters) which is not concilable with the human scale. Shortly looking at the Cité de la Muette from the post-postmodern perspective we conclude that it lacks certain degree of complexity and heterogeneity. Developed project introduces a complexity on various scales firstly new apartment typologies are developed for the housing, secondly interventions with functional and formal varieties appear in the courtyard. Interventions contrast uniform façade of the complex with its materiality and monumental architectural language. And positioning new objects of different dimensions and shape divide oversized courtyard into smaller human scale public spaces. Holocaust memory is also addressed by placing a memorial building in the courtyard. Lastly, living quality of current residents are improved with inclusive and flexible design and new infrastructure.
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