Development of Les Vignes Blanches, Cergy-Pontoise

Development of Les Vignes Blanches, Cergy-Pontoise

Les Vignes Blanches

While Vignes-Blanches was designed with the intention of providing a mutualistic relationship between the occupant and the architect, the realization of this goal proved more difficult in its execution. Lucien Kroll and his Atelier were awarded a first place prize in a competition aimed at renewing and transforming a dilapidated suburb, and the redesign of the neighborhood was envisioned as a collaboration where the occupants could sketch and design ideal progressions for their homes and the architect would assist in the technical fruition of their desires. Nan Ellin provides historical context for a subsequent stagnation of the project at Cergy-Pontoise, “only three of the forty-three households who ultimately moved into the Vignes Blanches were actually involved in the participatory process,” and future inhabitants chose to live in already designed buildings (Elin 179). Residents were discouraged by the participatory architecture process primarily “because they found it too slow, tedious, and costly” (Elin 179). The resulting neighborhood appears to generally reflect the appearance of an average suburb, in contrast with the collage-like construction of his more successful participatory architectural projects. While Kroll hoped Vignes-Blanches would simultaneously promote the community and the individual, in the suburban context, the two spheres could not co-exist. The transformation of the spaces into the dreams of the residents faced great difficulty because the place at Cergy-Pontoise was already imbued with the culture and setting of a suburban ideal. One resident explained his experience with the participatory architecture to be lackluster, explaining that “market demands, the nature of the construction permit, and the need to harmonize with the surrounding” prevented him from receiving a home which reflected his drawing (Elin 179). In the context of Kroll’s hope for “architecture of complexity,” a culture of commercial ease and the difficulties of bureaucracy discouraged a manifestation of the idea and devolved into a more orthodox neighborhood structure .

Lucien Kroll and residents

Ellin, Nan. “Participatory Architecture on the Parisian Periphery: Lucien Kroll’s Vignes Blanches.” Journal of Architectural Education (1984-), vol. 53, no. 3, [Taylor & Francis, Ltd., Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, Inc.], 2000, pp. 178–83.

Kroll Lucien. Un quartier banal. "Les Vignes blanches, à Cergy-Pontoise. In: Les Annales de la recherche urbaine," No 32, 1986. Compositions urbaines. pp. 67-77.

1976-1983

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English, French

Photo of Architectural project

Les Vignes Blanches

49° 02' 6.00" N, 2° 03' 28.20" E