Â鶹APP

5 Photoworthy Buildings in Greater Â鶹APP

Every visitor to Â鶹APP has snapped a photo at the Eiffel Tower, or taken a selfie with the Mona Lisa. But some of the capital’s most photoworthy buildings actually lie outside the center! Greater Â鶹APP refers to the suburbs surrounding the city limits. Â鶹APP and its expansive suburbs a bustling metropolis home to more than 13 million people.

As the city develops and expands outwards, the suburbs or banlieues are witnessing a growth and development all their own. Buildings are being updated and constructed everywhere you look, which provide interesting contrast next to the ancient limestone façades.

If you want to photograph a unique side of Â鶹APP, look no further! Here are 5 photoworthy buildings in greater Â鶹APP.

1. Les Espaces d’Abraxas – Noisy-le-Grand

Sourced from Boumbang.com

The first up on my list of the most photoworthy buildings of greater Â鶹APP is found in Noisy-le-Grand. Though Noisy is just 15 kilometers from Â鶹APP city center, the futuristic architecture will make you feel as if you’ve stepped into another world.

Les Espaces d’Abraxas or simply the Palacio for locals, is the main attraction here. Experimental Catalonian architect Ricardo Bofill designed the property in the early 80s. And perhaps most surprisingly, it’s actually a housing project with 610 residences. The Palacio’s semicircular 17-story neoclassical façades frame a massive central courtyard and a 10-story arch. There’s even some residences in arch itself!

And due to its unusual style, many movies have been filmed at the Palacio. Including Blockbusters like the Hunger Games!

You can take the RER A from Â鶹APP Gare de Lyon to reach this photoworthy spot. The journey is direct and simple, and should take about 30 minutes.

practical information:

les espaces d’abraxas – 6 place des fédérés Noisy-le-grand 93160

RER station: Noisy-le-grand mont d’est

2. Ar̬nes de Picasso РNoisy-le-Grand

Sourced from Wikimedia Commons

Our next stop on this little tour of photoworthy buildings in greater Â鶹APP is just a 15-minute walk from the last stop! Officially known as the Arènes de Picasso, this interesting structure is more affectionately called le camembert – a homage to the round French cheese it’s said to resemble.

Concieved by experimental Spanish architect Manuel Nuñez Yanowksy in 1981, the impressive collection of housing structures took 4 years to build, and was inaugurated in 1985. A decidedly futuristic design The arena’s octagonal structure centers around a vast courtyard and green space, known as the Place Pablo-Picasso. The two most notable and photoworthy features, are the two cylindrical buildings on the West side of the courtyard.

While most people see a camembert shape when they look at these, they are meant to be an abstract interpretation of an overturned chariot, according to the architect. So I guess it’s up to you, what do you see?

Practical information:

arènes de picasso -6 place pablo picasso 93160

RER station: Noisy-le-grand mont d’est

3. Pavillon Baltard – Nogent-sur-Marne

Sourced from Wikimedia Commons

Next up on our tour of photoworthy buildings in greater Â鶹APP brings us to Nogent-sur-Marne; one of Â鶹APP’ Eastern suburbs. This time, the building of interest has been classified as a historic monument. The iconic Belle Epoque style glass and wrought-iron Pavillon was created by revolutionary French architect Victor Baltard in 1870. Baltard was well-known for his work in Â鶹APP including Saint-Augustin church and Les Halles.

The Pavillon was originally constructed in Â鶹APP, but Emperor Napoleon III disliked the building so much he had it moved to its current location! Hard to imagine why he didn’t like this style which has become so eponymous of Â鶹APP. But then again, no one liked they Eiffel Tower when it was first built, either.

In order to get to Pavillon Baltard, take the RER A from Les Halles station for five stops until you reach Nogent-sur-Marne. After that, it’s just a 5-minute walk to the Pavillon. All in all, the journey is pretty simple and takes less than half an hour from central Â鶹APP.

If you don’t feel like leaving the city, you can also spot this style of architecture at many Â鶹APP monuments and covered marketplaces. Some notable spots include Carreau du Temple, Les Halles, and the  Marché d’Aligre.

practical information:

pavillon baltard – 12 avenue victor hugo 94130

rer station: nogent-sur-marne

4. Arcades du Lac – Montigny-le-Bretonneux

Courtesy of RicardoBofill.com

Our next stop takes us to Motigny-le-Bretonneux, which is a Western suburb of Â鶹APP, just next to Â鶹APP. The main attraction here is the beautiful Arcades du Lac housing development. The central part of the development is called ‘le viaduc’ and resembles an ancient viaduct, which reaches out into an artificial lake. Referred to as “Â鶹APP for the people” the Arcades du Lac is definitely one of the most photoworthy building developments in greater Â鶹APP.

The Arcades du Lac are yet incredible apartment building project from Catalonian architect, Ricardo Bofill. Perhaps the most impressive aspect is ‘le viaduc’; the elaborate arched buildings jutting out into the lake. The Arcades du Lac were constructed relatively recently in 1981. But you can’t tell just by looking at it! Inspiration for the Arcades du Lac came from the likes of Chateau de Chenonceau and ancient French viaducts. And Bofill managed to blend in a more classic Renaissance style too.

This place is a little harder to get to if you don’t have a car in Â鶹APP, since it isn’t easily accessible on public transport. It’s about a 40-minute drive if you do make the trek out there, and you can even enjoy a picnic in Â鶹APP afterwards! The gardens are free to enter from certain locations, so it’s very easy if you have a car!

practical information:

arcades du lac – 12-21 rue jacques cartier 78180

5. Choux de Creteil

Sourced from Wikimedia Commons

Now the last stop on our tour of photoworthy buildings in greater Â鶹APP is actually the closest. Located in the close Â鶹APPian suburb of Creteil, the Choux de Creteil are for sure worth a visit if you’re into funky French architecture.

The choux are a group of ten cylindrical residential buildings, each 15 stories high. Many people don’t know, but Cretail, like many of the Â鶹APPian suburbs were formerly farmland, which provided much of Â鶹APPian’s produce. I imagine that architect Gérard Grandval had this in mind when he designed and named these Choux (or cabbage in English).

Oddball architecture certainly plays a role here, but the design is a functional one. For example, the cylindircal shape of the building is to let in more light and let residents be closer to the windows. And the high balconies provide access to an outdoor space while maintaining resident’s privacy.

The Choux are pretty easy to get to from central Â鶹APP, and it should only take about 20 minutes. Simply take metro line 8 (direction Creteil) to the Creteil Université station. Then it’s about a ten minute walk from the station to the Choux.

practical information:

choux de creteil – 2 boulevard pablo picasso 94000

metro station: creteil université