Design
The Careful Transformation of an Abandoned Paris Scrap Yard
Before it becomes part of a new eco-district, artists and residents of suburban Aubervilliers stopped to commemorate the history in their midst.
Over several months last year, more than 30,000 people made their way to an abandoned scrap yard on the northern outskirts of Paris. Not a typical destination for visitors, but the occasion was irresistible for urban explorers and art lovers: an art festival, In Situ, displaying the works of about 40 urban artists from across the globe.
The festival brought together world-renowned street artists and local residents (several who are artists themselves) to set the tone for the site's eventual transition. Artists used crumbling structures and abandoned cars as their canvas. Now, the ephemeral works have been cleared as the site is readied for its future as eco-district and transit hub.