Les Espaces d'Abraxas

Les Espaces d'Abraxas
Map
General information
Architectural stylePostmodernism
ClassificationSocial Housing
Town or cityNoisy-le-Grand
CountryFrance
Coordinates48°50′24″N 2°32′35″E / 48.8401°N 2.5431°E / 48.8401; 2.5431
Construction started1978
Construction stopped1982
Opened1983
Technical details
MaterialPrefabricated Concrete
Size47,000 m2 (510,000 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Ricardo Bofill
Architecture firmRicardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura
Other information
Public transit accessRéseau Express Régional (RER)

Les Espaces d'Abraxas is a high-density housing complex in Noisy-le-Grand, approximately 12 km (7.5 mi) from Paris, France.[1] The building was designed by architect Ricardo Bofill and his architecture practice Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura (RBTA) in 1978[2] on behalf of the French government,[3] during a period of increased urbanisation across France after World War II.[4] This rapid urbanisation led to overcrowding and insufficient housing in Paris.[5] To offset this, the French government implemented a project to create five 'New Towns' on the outskirts of the city.[5]

Architect Ricardo Bofill's projects, including Les Espaces d'Abraxas, are rooted in his left wing ideals.[6] The building's post-modern design uses classical motifs and new building technologies to achieve a luxury aesthetic previously reserved for upper classes.[7] Despite receiving criticism, the building was an early success for Bofill, and brought him international success and praise.[3] The building has been used as a backdrop in film and TV, including in Brazil (1985) and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015).[8]

  1. ^ Phelps, Nicholas A.; Parsons, Nick; Ballas, Dimitris; Dowling, Andrew (2006). "Noisy-le-Grand: Grand State Vision or Noise about Nowhere?". Post-suburban Europe : planning and politics at the margins of Europe's capital cities. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-230-00212-8. OCLC 750491768.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :9 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Ayers, Andrew (2004). The architecture of Paris : an architectural guide. Stuttgart: Edition Axel Menges. p. 355. ISBN 3-930698-96-X. OCLC 51527007.
  4. ^ Farro, Antimo Luigi; Maddanu, Simone (15 May 2019), "Occupying the city", Youth and the Politics of the Present, Routledge, pp. 141–152, doi:10.4324/9780429198267-11, ISBN 9780429198267, S2CID 188982827
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :7 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :20 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Marta, Tobolczyk (2021). Contemporary architecture. The genesis and characteristics of leading trends. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5275-7039-9. OCLC 1293294352.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference boom2017 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).