Film Noir Buff Style Forum / Neglected Utopia: Photographer explores the forgotten modernist estate

Bop · 2016-03-03 13:17:49

Beautiful stuff to be found here...

Neglected Utopia: Photographer explores the forgotten modernist estates of Paris
16th February in Photography

From the 1950s to the 1980s, Paris was booming. Foreign migration and urbanisation of the city caused a huge surge in population and a crisis for housing. France’s solution came in the form of vast housing projects and so during this period massive, modernist and really quite unique estates sprung up across the city — aiming for a new way of living.

Just a few decades later and these towering buildings look dated, discarded and forgotten. Often stigmatised by the media, they divide opinion in France and have been left mostly occupied by the ageing community of ‘urban veterans’ who first made it their home, as the younger generation are drawn to more contemporary city living.

Local photographer Laurent Kronental has become fascinated by the ‘ambitious and dated modernist features’ of these estates, known locally as ‘Grands Ensembles’. Since 2011 he has developed ‘Souvenir d’un Futur’, a series of stunning photographs documenting these neglected communities and capturing what he calls ‘the poetry of ageing environments’. He also explores the idea of the aspirational ‘utopia’ design contrasted with the neglected state they are in today, by consciously conveying the impression of towns that have been left almost empty.

http://www.laurentkronental.com

Last edited by Bop (2016-03-03 13:23:15)

formby1 · 2016-03-03 14:37:06

Worried Man · 2016-03-03 15:13:28

Interesting architecture beautifully photographed. I found the portraits intriguing as well.

Bop · 2016-03-03 15:14:18

The buildings are indeed great but the photography especially portraits are wonderful. I definitely agree with what you said, the Frenchies take on their housing issue compared to what we achieved during the same period is like the difference between a sculpture and a brick.

I dont see much I like in London past the 1930s..

4F Hepcat · 2016-03-04 01:11:42

Those estates are pretty grim places now. Cartier-Bresson was taking photographs in the late 60s and early 70s before he retired from photography of the new Paris suburbs and revealing the dystopia that was to come.

The Brits did make some decent council estates from the 30's onwards, that was a success for a time. They never did modernist building well, like they followed the rules rigidly with no creativity and made it worse with the cheap shoddy construction of the 60s and 70s. The Brazilians were much much better, introducing a bit of baroque in the equivalents of the time, but these were buildings for the elites and not the common man.

I find most urban modernism stark, dehumanizing and not for me.

Bop · 2016-03-04 01:46:00

I think that was the point of the series Hep..to shoot them in a way that didn't reflect the distopia...

doghouse · 2016-03-04 06:51:15

It's jarring to see in real life. Amazingly soul crushing.

formby1 · 2016-03-04 09:58:53

doghouse · 2016-03-04 10:12:35

Bop · 2016-03-04 11:31:42

Thank yourselves lucky you never visited High Wycombe bus station in the 1990s. Made Blade Runner look like the My Little Pony movie.

4F Hepcat · 2016-03-04 23:31:22

woofboxer · 2016-03-05 04:33:28

Modern buildings take on the feel of their surroundings to a degree. There are many schools and underground stations in London built in a deco or modernist style. Where they are seen in the context of a well maintained leafy suburb they are inspirational and provide a relief from rows of mundane Victorian or 1930s housing. Where they are in a rundown, less desirable neighbourhood they can appear souless and slightly intimidating.

Bop · 2016-03-05 04:45:03

I dont know Woof...I still quite like them.. North Kensington has some peaches, the Olympic Building in the building estate by my old house was great...the school by Wormwood scrubs is great too..and then there was some shitty looking places next to the Linford Christie Stadium...and Kensal House up by where I am now...yes they look awful but the beauty of the orginal proportions still shines through..and Im not saying that just to be contary they really are great..especially compared to the 60s and 70s stuff that sits alongside

Last edited by Bop (2016-03-05 04:58:34)

Bop · 2016-03-05 04:46:36

One of my fav little bits is Edgware Road station which I go most days...something abot the planters and the way the steps curve round...it looks wonderful...

St. Johns Wood however looks more the ticket in how its been kept

Last edited by Bop (2016-03-05 04:59:09)

formby1 · 2016-03-05 05:30:26

formby1 · 2016-03-05 05:38:29

Bop · 2016-03-05 06:37:31

👍

Thanks Formby Ill have a look

formby1 · 2016-03-05 06:51:37

Bop · 2016-03-05 07:21:10

Strangely both the two types of architecture Im mainly drawn too

woofboxer · 2016-03-05 08:14:01

Bop · 2016-03-05 10:41:49

Last edited by Bop (2016-03-05 10:43:57)

woofboxer · 2016-03-05 12:02:00

One of the most beautiful buildings in London

http://www.jannaludlow.co.uk/Art_Deco/Black_Cat_Factory.html

formby1 · 2016-03-05 14:54:47

The Daily Express Buildings in both London and Manchester are great Art Deco buildings

Manchester:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_Express_Building,_Manchester

London:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_Express_Building,_London

There is one in Glasgow too, which is the weakest of the three. Manchester is the finest.

Bop · 2016-03-05 16:11:22

This is excatly why I enjoy watching the early Poirots so much

Bop · 2016-03-07 00:13:59

Just remembered this scene from Caro diario with Nanni going round Rome on his Vespa..

https://youtu.be/K2Gqbnml8aw

Some good and some not so good but clearly the biggest issue in the UK is shit weather get a nice bit of sun on your monolithic modernist building..and it doesn't look half as bad

Last edited by Bop (2016-03-07 00:14:59)

#1 2016-03-03 13:17:49

Neglected Utopia: Photographer explores the forgotten modernist estate

#2 2016-03-03 14:37:06

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#5 2016-03-04 01:11:42

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