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Nowadays, it is rather a “classic” to turn old buildings into art centres, or galleries or… something trendy, in any case. These places still hide marks of the past within their fascinating structures: architectural artworks that we’re not able to do anymore, these buildings question the look we want to give them and claim their own personalities. The 104 in Paris is part of an international network of new places which share the same concern: to cross all kind of arts and communication, in order to think about the position of the artist in society today. The 104 is neither a museum nor a school of Arts. The 104 re-emerged after more than a century of existence as that scary and important place that a coffin factory is a symbol of death and war, a place where families might have had to go to identify their deceased relatives. Beyond this dark past, the building belongs to a fascinating time in architecture: it follows the industrial architectural style of the second part of the 19th century which, like the great the train stations and universal exhibition halls of the period, relies heavily upon the importance of brick, glass and iron and cast iron structures. The old elements are still apparent in the new structure, despite the fact that the function of the place has been transformed completely, from a storage space for coffins to a place of production. Opened to all kind of arts, the 104 wants to be like a cultural lung, in both the district and in the town, a place where people cross its spaces every day, blurring the gap between everyday life and the arts. Professionals, people walking around, tourists visiting, curious people, visitors of the
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exhibitions, artists… everyone can meet in this place. Further, its most critical importance lies in the interactions of the surrounding inhabitants, their passage in and through the space. The 104 will give artists the technical and financial resources to create a work of art. Artists are invited to work in the atelier to share their work and techniques with people and other artists. In such a way, the 104 intends to develop about 30 artistic projects a year, which occur in a great melting pot, fed by the presence of many different artists from all over the world. It is an interacting place, where people can meet each other: you can meet your neighbours or encounter artists, observe how they work and talk with them. The 104 settles in a precarious district in the north-east of Paris. It is a part of a large program for the redevelopment of the area, which has been planned for many years: housing is being demolished to build new apartment buildings, a park (parc de la cour du maroc) has been created along the main street and the railways, and on the top of that the 104 cultural centre intends to dynamize the area, offering new activities. Using an old building for the Municipal Funeral Service (SMPF) built in 1874, the project had to deal with the restoration of a classified building and its imposing stature. Seen as a link within the places around, the building has two entrances so that you can cross it and arrive in a completely different area: on one side is the renovated part and the park, and on the other are the high-rise housing buildings from the 70s. In creating such a link, it helps to attract people to the renovated side of the area and the park.