'brutalist paris': a book that explores the post-war concrete architecture in the french capital

a book about brutalist architecture in & around Paris

‘Brutalist Paris’ explores the most significant examples of post-war brutalist architecture in and around the French capital. With original photography and expert texts by Robin Wilson and Nigel Green of Photolanguage, the book draws on over five years of research, interviews, and imagery. The book celebrates the rigid aesthetics of the metropolis’ brutalist architecture and situates Brutalism within the broader social, political, and cultural context of Paris. Developed by London-based independent publisher Blue Crow Media (discover their brutalist Berlin map here), ‘Brutalist Paris’ is now shipping, and you can buy it here.

all images by Nigel Green for Blue Crow Media | building by Ivry-Jean Hachette

dedicated to the city’s brutalist treasures 

The recently released book focuses on 50 individual buildings, maps, and more than 150 black-and-white photographs, connecting them with seven essays bringing new interpretations of Brutalism in the French context regarding architecture, history, and social change. From the curved concrete balconies of ‘Les Choux de Créteil’ to Oscar Niemeyer’s ‘Bourse du Travail’, ‘Brutalist Paris’ documents the movement’s most significant examples in and around the French capital. The book also takes the reader into the depths of the ‘Grand Ensembles’ mass housing projects and ‘ZUPs’ (Priority Zones for Urbanisation), revealing intimate views of the works of ‘Ivry-sur-Seine’ (1968-87) by Renée Gailhoustet (1929-2023) and Jean Renaudie.

Back in 2017, Blue Crow Media (see more here) commissioned Robin Wilson and Nigel Green of Photolanguage (more here) to research, write and shoot photography for the Brutalist Paris Map (more here). Since the map’s publication, through their research, writing, and photography, Photolanguage has continued to draw attention to brutalist architecture across the city and its suburbs. Founded by Derek Lamberton in 2009, Blue Crow Media is a London-based independent publisher that has launched a series of close to thirty architecture guide maps, covering cities as diverse as London, Skopje, New York, Detroit, Tokyo, and Pyongyang. ‘Brutalist Paris’ is the first thoroughly researched English-language book documenting the movement’s influence in and around the French city.

‘Les choux de Créteil’, Gérard Grandval, 1966-74 

‘Les choux de Créteil’, Gérard Grandval, 1966-74

‘Les Orgues de Flanders’, Martin S van Treek, 1973-80

‘Cité de la Maladrerie Aubervilliers’

‘Cite Rateau’

‘Caserne de Pompiers’, Jean Willerval, Prvoslav Popovic, 1968-73 ‘Église Saint André’, Marius Depont, 1988

‘Brutalist Paris’ book by Blue Crow Media

1/23

Cité de la Maladrerie Aubervilliers

Les Choux Creteil

Ivry-Jean Hachette

Ivry Place Voltaire Cover

Communist Party HQ

Car Park Noisy-le-Grand

Spinoza Building PL Ivry Spinoza

Ambassade d’ Australie, Harry Seidler, Marcel Breuer, Pier-Luigi Nervi, 1975-78

Ambassade d’ Australie, Harry Seidler, Marcel Breuer, Pier-Luigi Nervi, 1975-78

‘Vision 80’ Logements, Jean Pierre Jouve, Andrei Frieschlander, Charles Manfredos, 1970-73

tour Tokyo, Michel Holley, Jean Chaillet, André Martinat, Michel Proux, 1969-74

Car Park Noisy-le-Grand

Ivry Cité du Parc

Ivry-Cité du Parc

Ivry Cité Voltaire

Concrete Playground

Communist Party HQ

Cite Rateau

Bobigny Town Hall

 

 

 

 

project info:

name: Brutalist Paris

research, text + photography: Photolanguage (Robin Wilson and Nigel Green)

publisher: Blue Crow Media