parc de la Villette

Welcome to the edge of the city, to the nineteenth arrondissement, and to the massive fifty-five hectare expanse known as Park duh lah vee-let. If you arrived expecting the perfect, manicured lawns, the symmetrical gravel paths,…

Before we analyze the strange red structures around us, we must fire up the time machine and descend into the dark, industrial history of this land. In the mid-nineteenth century, Emperor Napoleon the Third mandated the…

To heal this industrial scar, the city held a massive design competition. The winner was Bernard Tschumi, a man known at the time more as a philosopher and theorist than a practical builder. …

The most visible and instantly recognizable elements of Tschumi's design are the bizarre red structures scattered relentlessly across the park. These make up the first of his three systems: The Points. …

The second system Tschumi superimposed upon the park is The Lines. This constitutes the network of pathways that cuts across the rigid grid of the folies. …

The final architectural system is The Surfaces. These are the large, open green lawns meant for massive public gatherings, concerts, and the famous summer open-air film festival. …

While the deconstructivist landscape is fascinating, La Villette is ultimately defined by the colossal cultural institutions that anchor its perimeters. It is a true city of culture. …

As you conclude your exploration of Park duh lah vee-let, you are forced to confront the ultimate question: did this crazy, highly theoretical experiment actually work? Look around you. …