Les Espaces d'Abraxas

Les Espaces d'Abraxas is a high-density housing complex in Noisy-le-Grand, approximately from Paris, France. The building was designed by architect Ricardo Bofill and his architecture practice Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura (RBTA) in 1978 on behalf of the French government, during a period of increased urbanisation across France after World War II. This rapid urbanisation led to overcrowding and insufficient housing in Paris. To offset this, the French government implemented a project to create five 'New Towns' on the outskirts of the city. Architect Ricardo Bofill's projects, including Les Espaces d'Abraxas, are rooted in his left wing ideals. The building's post-modern design utilises classical motifs and new building technologies to achieve a luxury aesthetic previously reserved for upper classes. Despite receiving criticism, the building was an early success for Bofill, and brought him international success and praise. The unique architecture of the building has led it to be used as the backdrop in film and TV, including in Brazil (1985) and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015). The large complex of 591 apartments was designed in 1978 and completed in 1982. It rapidly acquired iconic status, amplified by its use as background sets in movies and music clips. It consists of three buildings: Le Palacio (the palace) is the largest, followed by Le Théâtre (the theatre) to its west, and the smaller L'Arc (the arch) between the other two. Le Palacio has 441 housing units, Le Théâtre has 130, and L'Arc has 20. In the decades following its creation, living conditions in the complex deteriorated to the extent that its demolition was debated in the mid-2010s. In 2018, the commune of Noisy-le-Grand announced that Bofill would oversee the renovation of Les Espaces d'Abraxas and of a number of nearby developments, including new construction. "Les Espaces d'Abraxas" literally translates to 'Abraxas's Spaces' and is a reference to the Greek Abraxas.