Written by:
Guest Author
by Louis Cook
A Personal Starting Point
On a recent trip to France, I stayed near an otherwise unassuming town known as Ivry-sur-Seine. I had come across this commune before, writing an essay about the town in my first year studying architecture and planning. In the heart of the town is a large post-war development known as ‘Les Étoiles’ (“The Stars”) for its unusual floorplan which creates a jagged, sprawling shape. In my essay, I praised it from a very theoretical perspective, detailing its creative interpretation of modernist ideals, materiality and uniqueness. Since this time, however, I have become increasingly sceptical of architectural theory. As important as academics claim these features are to a building, there is only one aspect that matters – how a building is lived in and experienced first-hand.
My visit to Ivry-sur-Seine was in some ways a test of these beliefs, and to see if my initial praise for Les Étoiles was felt outside of the theoretical standpoint. What looks clever on paper can too easily diverge from what is experienced on the ground. My visit to Ivry, therefore, saw me investigate this principle – how well can architecture and planning really foster community, connection and belonging?
Breathing with the City
As I explored Ivry-sur-Seine, I was to be taken aback by how Les Étoiles sits in the centre of town. The staggered shape of the building means it’s scale was slowly revealed, the plant-filled triangular terraces stretching into the sky creating a mountain-esque silhouette. Despite sounding relatively dominating, the use of vegetation helped to soften the blow and made the development fit much better into the landscape than it would have otherwise. Despite primarily being housing, the development is easy to enter, with public transport stops, walkways and public areas both around and within the building itself. In busier areas, there are colourful murals and sculptures which add a layer of personality and fun.
At street-level, the building is used for entirely public and commercial purposes. This grounds it in the area and makes it feel much more inviting and integrated into the fabric of the town. On the street level are wide entrances that lead into open, green facades. The area is lush and bright, creating a valued contrast from the buildings otherwise dark façade. On the edges of these squares are staircases and ramps that bring you into, among the residential walkways and corridors, even more open areas with scattered trees, benches and lawns. The angled balconies and walkways create layered, human-scale spaces which makes you feel more like you’re in a forest than a suburban housing estate. In short, Les Étoiles is not an isolated block of flats or even just an interesting exercise in architectural principles – it is woven into the fabric of Ivry-sur-Seine.
Integration and Place-Making
From my experience living in the suburbs of London, it is difficult to foster a sense of place in a town that is so easily dominated by its larger parent. Moreover, there is often a feeling of disconnect among the residents of, towns that were developed in the post-war era. Forward-looking governments often turn away from such areas since many view them as symbols of a bygone-era of shortsightedness and badly thought-out ideas. Ivry-sur-Seine, however, has made a strong effort to instil a sense of pride in its community.
Just after my visit, Ivry-sur-Seine held a cultural event called ‘Ivry en Fête’ to celebrate the local history, industry, arts and youth. Despite missing the event, I saw the streets decorated with posters and bunting, fostering a sense of local pride among the residents. In Les Étoiles there is a community centre called Espace Gérard Phillipe, dedicated to place-making and belonging. Inside is a large exhibition dedicated to Ivry and the history of Les Étoiles. There are many opportunities for participation and interaction with the space full of notes, drawings, insights and memories from residents of all ages. The exhibition had detailed descriptions from all walks of life as well as aspirations for the towns future. Throughout the town was a feeling of community and collective responsibility that helped make the space feel alive and full of hope.
Photos: Louis Cook
My visit to Ivry-sur-Seine exposed me to an alternative approach to urban design. The town does not shy away from the past – it carefully and creatively builds on it to forge a sense of community spirit. Rather than being dismissed as an artefact of the post-war era, Les Étoiles has been embraced, and now stands as a living example of how architecture can be socially integrated into the essence of a town just as well as it can be physically. The green terraces, walkways and shared spaces show just how well urban design can encourage connection and support a sense of local identity and belonging.
Architecture should never be about theory and urban design shouldn’t be learned from a book. It should come from the life and vibrancy of the people within it.
Louis Cook is a third year student of Architecture and Planning at Newcastle University. He is very interested in citizenship, local identity and the convergence of space with a sense of belonging. For his dissertation he is researching how the built environment influences civic identity in urban areas in the UK.