THE COUNCIL ESTATE

Through an impressive collection of postcards and the emblematic story of one of its inhabitants, this archival-driven narrative explores the rise and fall of the “grands ensembles.” After the war, these large housing projects were the architectural and social pride of the post-war boom, symbolizing economic growth during the Trente Glorieuses. Yet, in just a few decades, they became stigmatized ghettos, destined for demolition, and came to represent a political failure. However, many of their residents, despite the poor reputation of these housing projects, still feel a deep sense of nostalgia for them.