Reimagining the traditional Grand Tour — the aristocratic journey to the ruins of antiquity — the project turns its attention to the Parisian Grands Ensembles. During September and October, we visited a number of neighbourhoods in and around Paris, gradually narrowing our focus to the northern suburb of Sarcelles. There, we collaborated with local organisations and led workshops together with dramaturg Elaheh Nouri.
Built during Les Trente Glorieuses — the “glorious thirty” years of economic growth in France between 1945 and 1975 — the Grands Ensembles embodied ideals of progress and housing for all. Over time, however, insufficient maintenance and shortcomings in social policy have contributed to their stigmatisation. Media narratives frequently eclipse the lived realities of those who inhabit these neighbourhoods.
Behind the vast populations of the suburbs lie countless stories and identities. This raised a central question for us: how do we look at a neighbourhood, and whose story is being told?
Because these areas occupy a sensitive place in public discourse, entering them demands care. Many residents prefer not to be photographed, which led us to adopt hand drawing as our primary method. Drawing in public invites curiosity, conversation, and a gentler form of encounter. Unlike the instant capture of a photograph, it requires time and presence. Many residents expressed surprise that their neighbourhood was considered worthy of such close attention. In this way, our tour approaches these post-war complexes as monuments in their own right.
vokal(@)vokal.fi
Ella Kaira
Architect (MSc) SAFA
ella.kaira(@)vokal.fi
Matti Jänkälä
Architect (MSc) SAFA
matti.jankala(@)vokal.fi
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