Designed by (also Spanish) architect Manuel Nuñez Yanowsky in 1981, the Arènes de Picasso complex was inaugurated in 1985 in Noisy-le-Grand, as part of theurban planning of the new towns built in the 1960s to house the large number of people living in the Paris region in the aftermath of the Second World War. At that time, several new towns were being built around Paris: Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Evry, Cergy and Marne-la-Vallée, of which Noisy-le-Grand was one.
All these new districts had the ambition of creating a social mix, so the government called on architects to propose innovative urban designs. As a result, a number ofpost-modernist architectural projects are flourishing, such as those by Ricardo Bofill in Cergy, Montigny-le-Bretonneux and the Espaces d'Abraxas in the Mont-d'Est district of Noisy.
Les Espaces d'Abraxas, a landmark building in Noisy-le-Grand (93)
In Noisy-le-Grand, just a few minutes' walk from the Noisy-Mont d'Est RER station, you'll discover housing estates with architecture that clearly stands out from the crowd: such is the case of the Espaces d'Abraxas, which, while not necessarily recommended for visits so as not to disturb the residents, has an unfailing architectural charisma. [Read more]
In the Pavé-Neuf district of Noisy-le-Grand, Manuel Nuñez Yanowsky is also a member of the post-modern architecture movement, which also includes Le Corbusier. Yanowsky's architectural style is inspired by the past, with symbolic forms forming the core of his architectural creations.
This is how the Arènes de Picasso, more commonly known as "camemberts", came to be imagined, with a building complex composed half of social housing and half of private housing. In terms of symbolism, the site takes its inspiration from ancient times, and more specifically from Roman chariots: indeed, the name "Arènes" is no coincidence. Here, the space has been designed to echo the arenas in which gladiators fought to the death, and the "camemberts" are actually the wheels of a Roman chariot, turned upside down. The "camemberts" are actually the wheels of a Roman chariot, which has been turned upside down. The camemberts represent the wheels of the chariot and, seen from the air, the shape is unmistakable.
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Please note: the Arènes de Picasso is not a tourist attraction, but a place to live. If you want to discover the site at all costs, do so on a guided tour, such as those offered by Explore Paris for the Journées du Patrimoine or on other occasions throughout the year.
Les Espaces d'Abraxas, a landmark building in Noisy-le-Grand (93)
