TOULOUSE
Because the historic city can’t just tell the story of its ancient heritage: this tour will show you that the history of the 20th century is just as worthy of admiration, thanks to contemporary architecture that is sometimes overlooked or even ignored.
Far from being an enumeration of modern buildings, this tour bears witness to the evolution of Toulouse from the Art Deco 1920s to the early 2000s. Toulouse’s economic and sociological development is reflected in the choice of architects such as Fabien Castaing, who reflected the times.
The Thirty Glorious Years (from 1945 to 1975) marked the political acceptance of Toulouse as a balanced metropolis, leaving fascinating traces in the urban landscape of the city centre.
Later, in the 1990s, contemporary architecture was marked by a reappropriation of the city’s identity, while respecting the older history of Toulouse’s buildings. Far from being purely functional, this architecture placed the well-being of its occupants in a new place, even if the criteria for well-being have since evolved even further.
This two-voice tour provides a lively forum for debate, with something for everyone. Is the slab-based architecture of Place Occitane a semi-failure? Can the international architecture extolled by Le Corbusier (free plan, free facade, stilts, flat roofs and entablature windows) be combined with Toulouse’s bricks? There’s sure to be a fascinating discussion between the speakers: the architect, the lecturer and… you!
This tour is offered in partnership with the Espace Patrimoine and the Maison de l’Architecture Occitanie – Pyrénées.
