Opened in 1964, the Avenue du Chaperon Vert isn’t just a street. It’s a testament to urban transformation, a place where history and modern life intertwine. Imagine standing here, on the cusp of two communes, Gentilly and Arcueil, in the Val-de-Marne department. Avenue du Chaperon Vert embodies the spirit of collaboration, built on the site of two former shantytowns, Villa Mélanie and Îlot Calmus. These shantytowns once stood on a site called Hautes-Bornes, hinting at the presence of prehistoric menhirs. This grand ensemble, with its 1,582 dwellings housing nearly 3,400 residents, emerged from a vision of progress.
The Avenue du Chaperon Vert project commenced in 1953, alongside the construction of the Autoroute du Soleil. The Minister of Reconstruction and Housing himself visited the site, recognizing its significance as one of France’s first and largest grand ensembles. The minister even boasted about the project’s cost, comparing it to “two days of war in Algeria”. This equates to approximately 5 billion Euros today. Between 1955 and 1965, a trio of architects shaped this vision into reality. Lucien Métrich from Gentilly, Charles Malaurant from Arcueil, and Jacques Poirrier from the Ministry of Urban Renewal, collaborated on this ambitious endeavor. The project culminated in the largest HLM (Habitation à Loyer Modéré – low-income housing) complex in Île-de-France.
The Office public de l’habitat d’Arcueil et de Gentilly (OPALY) manages all 1,582 housing units, a symbol of social responsibility and community development. This is considered the largest grand ensemble in Val-de-Bièvre. The Avenue du Chaperon Vert has continuously evolved, undergoing an ORU (Opération de Rénovation Urbaine – Urban Renewal Operation) between 2001 and 2014. This included the demolition of building HU. It became a priority neighborhood in 2015. Avenue du Chaperon Vert is more than just buildings. It’s a vibrant neighborhood structured around squares and green spaces, fostering a sense of community and connection. The area has undergone significant renovations, with substantial investment dedicated to modernizing the apartments and improving their energy efficiency.
Avenue du Chaperon Vert tells a story of resilience, collaboration, and continuous evolution. It reminds us that urban spaces are not simply concrete and steel, but living testaments to human ambition, and the ongoing pursuit of better living.