Postmodern Utopian Dream City (Paris/ France)

A Paris unknown to many unfolds itself in a part of the eastern suburb of Noisy-le-Grand.
The otherworldly housing estate was originally built to house a migrant population of rural and foreign refugees post WW2.

Constructed between 1978 and 1983 the complexes were designed to represent an alternative architectural approach. A number of Hollywood films used the place as a backdrop, including Brazil (1984) and, more recently, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (2014).
But inside this postmodern utopian dream city, all is quiet: time stops and people are scarce.
Parisian photographer Laurent Kronental's photo series, Souvenir d'un Futur (Memory of a Future), is a homage to what he describes as the "stranded senior citizens" of the French capital's Grand Ensemble region. He photographed it over the course of 4 years.
In 2006 there were plans to demolish parts of the development but after widespread resentment from its inhabitants it was decided to keep it standing for now.

"These 'monuments', living memories of their time, personify the fragile strength of a youth having blindly aged." —Laurent Kronental




























Walk through on google maps streetview:


Photos by Laurent Kronental

Other sources:

http://www.archdaily.com

http://www.messynessychic.com