Cité de l'Abreuvoir, Housing estate in Bobigny and Drancy, France
The Cité de l'Abreuvoir is a residential complex in Bobigny and Drancy with low-rise buildings and six cylindrical towers distributed within generous green spaces. Pedestrian pathways lined with linden trees run throughout the site, creating clear separation between foot traffic and vehicle circulation.
Architect Émile Aillaud designed this social housing project starting in 1952, with construction completed in 1962 and around 1,500 residential units built. The project responded to post-war housing shortages and employed innovative continuous sliding formwork construction methods.
The buildings display bright pink, blue, yellow, and orange facades created through artist Fabio Rieti's collaboration on the project. These colors define the visual character of the neighborhood and make walking through it feel lively.
The estate is best explored on foot, with wide pathways that are easy to navigate and shaded by linden trees for comfort. Visiting during daytime hours allows you to fully appreciate the building colors and enjoy the green spaces throughout the site.
The estate features three star-shaped towers alongside three rotating towers, a bold design created using advanced continuous sliding formwork techniques. These rotating structures showcase technical innovation and remain visually distinctive decades after completion.
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