2024-01-03 17:41:58
Nearly 30 million euros. This is the staggering sum that multi-starred chef Alain Ducasse intends to inject to renovate the People’s House of Clichy-la-Garenne, in Hauts-de-Seine (92). His goal? Transform this building listed as a Historic Monument, designed by the architects Eugène Beaudouin, Marcel Lods, the engineer Vladimir Bodiansky and the workshops of Jean Prouvé, into a “Medici Villa of international gastronomy”. Alain Ducasse did not hesitate to spend 2.1 million euros to purchase this masterpiece of modernist architecture which extends over 4,200 square meters.
View of the future Villa Medici of international gastronomy. Photo credit: Artefactory Lab for Jouin Manku and Perrot & Richard
This expense is explained by the real crush that Alain Ducasse had for this entirely modular place, in metal and glass, dating from the 1930s, for its removable floors, its opening roof with movable windows and its sliding partitions. The mobile roof makes it possible to organize outdoor events in addition to good ventilation of the space. The building could thus serve as a market thanks to the open roof, the open partitions and the open floor, then become a village hall by closing just the roof and the floor or even a cinema room by closing all of these components. The Maison du peuple, abandoned for nearly 40 years, will now become a mecca for gastronomy. The regional directorate of cultural affairs (Drac) and the Apsys group, which specializes in mixed real estate operations, will supervise the operation, led by architects Perrot & Richard and designers from the Jouin Manku agency. The first stone will be laid at the end of January.
A project that is not unanimous
The People’s House, which was the first prefabricated building with a sheet steel curtain wall and a metal framework built in France, will not lose its vocation as a place of life and sharing. Chefs from all over the world will come to the international laboratory of traditional and future culinary practices to demonstrate their know-how. “Because one day, I’m going to sit back and watch others do it. And these men and women from all over the world will be able to come and cook French products», underlines the starred chef to the Parisian .
In addition, the Maison du Peuple will bring together the Alain Ducasse chocolate, ice cream, biscuit and coffee factories and the group’s head office. The products will be available for sale in corners installed on site. It will also be possible to discover some manufacturing secrets. On the first floor, a 60-seat “bouillon” restaurant will be open to the public. “We are still discovering incredible and unknown things about this building. This is a very stimulating project», rejoices Alain Ducasse.
A project which was not unanimous, however. “Originally, it housed a market, union premises, offices, conference and cinema rooms, recalls Bernard Toulier, administrator of the Sites and Monuments association and member of the scientific committee of Docomomo France (for the documentation and conservation of buildings and sites of the Modern Movement). There won’t be much left of the public: the market will be replaced by a gastronomy laboratory, the curtain walls will be hidden by offices and shops. The building, bathed on all sides by light, will be cluttered with multiple enclosed spaces. Some sort of giant stainless steel pans will obscure the views of the old stage and the floor cabinet. It will no longer have much to do with the spirit of the place», continues this detractor of the project. “I was elected to give an attractive face to Clichy. This market was not functional, there were drafts everywhere. The Clichois no longer want to go shopping in Paris; they want quality businesses. It’s a whole neighborhood that will come back to life!” replies Rémi Muzeau, the mayor of Clichy.
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