“Cabbages” or “ears of corn”? That’s what the balconies of Les Choux de Cr\u00e9teil remind some people of. These shapely terraces grace ten cylindrical apartment buildings. They stand in the Paris suburb of Cr\u00e9teil.
Les Choux de Cr\u00e9teil is a large complex. It is listed as heritage of the 20th century by the French Ministry of Culture. These towers are an emblem of French architecture of the 1970s.
The architect G\u00e9rard Grandval conceived Les Choux de Cr\u00e9teil. The buildings were completed in 1974. Grandval was a master of vegetal architecture. He was also a humanist. He created a striking work. It fits the style of the 1970s. That era featured soft curves and pop colors in design.
Grandval wanted to break from harsh mineral architecture. He wanted to create more flexible forms. He dreamed of feminine cities.
The balconies are two meters tall. They provide outdoor access and privacy for residents. The curved balconies were meant for plants. Grandval envisioned ornamental plants and small trees. They would change the buildings with the seasons. But this planting never happened. Developers feared insects. They also doubted residents would care for the plants.
Les Choux de Cr\u00e9teil started in 1966. The area once produced vegetables for Paris. This history likely influenced Grandval’s design. The project features ten buildings. Each building has 15 stories. The asymmetrical balconies connect to each other. This creates a strong effect. The building’s position on a large avenue enhances this. There are no nearby buildings to block the view. A similar design appears in the security staircases.
Originally, the buildings were called “Ears of Corn”. Publicists later popularized the name “The Cabbages”.
The extension of the metro occurred alongside the district’s development. Connecting it to Paris was crucial. The first extension of line 8 from Maisons-Alfort to Cr\u00e9teil-L’\u00c9chat occurred in 1973. Two more extensions followed to Cr\u00e9teil-Universit\u00e9 and Cr\u00e9teil-Pr\u00e9fecture the following year. Les Choux were then ready for marketing.
The target was a middle-class population. They were promised the simplicity of suburban life. It was to be away from the hustle. The ideal setting for large families. Fathers could reach Op\u00e9ra in 35 minutes. Then they could return to their smiling home at 2200 francs per square meter. A bargain. Yet, buyers did not rush in.
The originality is not always an asset in real estate investment. The main difficulty of round buildings is that their partitions are not flat. The rooms are shaped like slices of cake. They widen towards the windows. They narrow towards the center. This makes furniture arrangement difficult.
Les Choux de Cr\u00e9teil achieved global success despite little public interest. It succeeded in breaking with the architecture of its time.
Today, almost no owners remain. A large portion of the apartments are social housing. The district has become a socially vulnerable area. To promote diversity, the municipality reserved 25% of the apartments for students.
Some residents admire the architecture. One student appreciates the proximity to nature. She also notes that it is very family-friendly. The balconies are spacious. A peaceful feeling emanates from them. The view of neighboring towers offers a unique urban perspective. Cr\u00e9teil aims to showcase its architectural heritage. It seeks to promote niche tourism.
Les Choux de Cr\u00e9teil sometimes serve as sets for film shoots and rap clips. Op\u00e9ra is still 35 minutes away via line 8. It is another world.