Parc de la Villette, Urban park in Pont-de-Flandre, Paris, France.
Parc de la Villette is an urban park in the Pont-de-Flandre district of Paris, France, spreading across 55 hectares and structured by a grid of 35 red buildings called follies. These architectural elements made of concrete and aluminum panels serve as orientation points and house cafés, workshops, play areas, or viewing platforms.
In 1982, architect Bernard Tschumi won an international competition among 470 entries to transform the former wholesale meat market into a modern public space. Opening took place in stages between 1984 and 1987, with the constructions gradually replacing the old market structures.
The name Villette recalls a 17th-century village that once stood here. Today locals come to picnic on the lawns, jog along the canals, or attend open-air concerts.
Two metro stations serve the grounds from different sides, and the main pathways are flat and wide enough for wheelchairs or strollers. Along the Ourcq Canal you can rent boats, and playgrounds are spread throughout the area so you can head toward different sections depending on your interests.
The red follies stand exactly 120 meters apart from each other, creating a continuous orientation system throughout the entire park. They are considered the first major example of deconstructivist architecture in a public green space.
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