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A radiophonic sound journey of Parisian brutalism by composer Iain Chambers, composed entirely from recordings of the buildings featured.

Paris is well known for its historic architecture: the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the endless rows of apartment buildings built by Hausmann in the 19th century. But beyond the historic centre lie a series of alternative Parisian cities, built from concrete during the 1960s and 70s.

This lesser-known concrete Paris creates a surprising journey around the Boulevard Périphérique, the ring road that contains the historic centre of Paris.

These alternative Parises were built after World War II, when the need to provide mass accommodation was counterbalanced by the desire to protect the historic centre. So a ‘multipolar’ solution was found, and the administrations beyond the Péripherique - many of them Communist - set to work, commissioning architects to reimagine the city. We visit buildings at Ivry-sur-Seine designed by Jean Renaudie and Renée Gailhoustet; Bobigny, by Oscar Niemeyer; and Créteil, by Gérard Grandval.

Contributors:
Robin Wilson
Gérard Grandval
Serge Renaudie

Producer/Composer: Iain Chambers
Sound mix: Peregrine Andrews
Executive Producer: Nina Perry
Recordings by Dinah Bird, Iain Chambers
Translations by Madeleine Williams
An Open Audio production for Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio 3