Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Atelier d'artiste


See the large top windows? They belong to an Atelier d'artiste (artist studio), that is a place dedicated to painters. You can find many of those in Paris, because until recently (until 1940, let's say), architects would always save some space on the top floor - on the north side, to avoid the sunlight reflexion - for artist studios. Now, because of the price of housing, all these studios have been turned into apartments. This one, for instance, located on the Ile de la Cité, must be totally priceless!

24 comments:

  1. Ile de la Cité? Oh, indeed, it must be priceless! Nice colors, though, nice night shot! :)

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  2. Very beautiful shot Eric. That's one of the things about Paris, the ville cares for artists so much!

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  3. Nice capture of differing qualities of light. At first I was wondering if that was someone posing for a portrait in the upper right window but then realized it would be too cold and dark by the window. It might not even be a person there.

    I was impressed to see so many people in Paris sketching: in parks, at monuments; oh, kind of like PDP—where there was something worth seeing, capturing, creating with, and sharing.

    It is good to see the appreciation for art that exists in Paris.

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  4. Wow - I dream of having a place like that - can you imagine? But hey, it's not for the mere mortals like us - I think you have to be born into an Ile de la Cité artist's studio-loft. We can only take pictures of them - nice ones tho'!

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  5. Living in an artist's studio on the Ile de la Cité. I think I'll dream about that tonight.

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  6. Hey, we could all contribute and buy one together - then have a rotation scheme for people to stay there.

    Someone from PDP one week, then me the next, someone from PDP one week, then me the next...and so on.

    Seems fair, non?

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  7. Like a "time-share" studio? Are you a realtor in your secret life, Michael? LOL

    Nice photo, Eric, and a reminder of how some locales value art.

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  8. Michael that's brilliant! I'm in.

    what a fantastic idea though to reserve these places for artists. Such a space is a premium in the UK and i see it is disappearing in Paris too as the living move in. Ah well we cannot help needing somewhere to live - or to holiday Michael - yes look into that idea, do!

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  9. I've noticed these spaces in many cities. Typically they're found in older commercial districts that have been run down but have avoided 'slum clearance' and now maybe undergoing revitalization. While they were artists spaces, often they were for commercial artists, graphic designers and such.

    That they still are common in Paris is a tribute to how frequently the space was built and that Paris has avoided the wholesale eradication of the past for the new.

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  10. Even Los Angeles may have a few of these in the grungy areas south of downtown. They're being revitalized --by artists, of course.

    Michael, I like your idea! We'll need to do a bit of negotiating, but it's a start.

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  11. It once was my dream to live in such a top floor apartment (even a one-room studio) with those large windows. In the summer, I loved to walk along the Seine to pick inside those beautiful apartments.
    The best way to get to visit some of them is to follow the artists route that some boroughs organize some week-ends.

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  12. Love it...absolutely love it! They have chased many of the artists out of San Francisco, so lofts like that here now go for at least a million and they aren't on the Ile de la Cite'...that is for sure! Sighhhh!

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  13. Count me in too Michael, Lynn and Monica! What a great idea except that if Michael stays there every 2nd week, he has to do all of the shopping and cleaning. Actually I think that house-swapping for holidays might be a good idea. Eric and Michael, next time you're in Oz come and see chez nous!

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  14. Mme Benaut, good idea, but I've already figured that into the deal. Since everybody has different tastes, I think the new people coming in on the every other week (the week I'm not there) then they can clean up after me and stock up the frigo. Makes perfect sense.

    Monica can leave Brazilian, Benaut's a few kangaroo steaks, Lynn can leave the cheddar...it will just make more sense I'm sure.

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  15. All very fine Michael, but hey, I´ve got even a better idea. Since you already LIVE in Paris and has an apartment there, we could all go to Paree and stay right there with you, and as a good host you fill up the refrigerator!!!
    What? No good?!

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  16. What a ripper.
    I just saw Monica's comment at Cheltenham.
    Totally brilliant.
    This should really be treated as a serious proposition.
    Michael can pop in and play the banjo.
    Seriously, it sounds merveilleux.
    BTW Monica, we miss you dear. Please call in when you can.
    Ce serait merveilleux également ! !

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  17. M.Benaut I knew you´d like the idea, as well as Mme.Benaut. Well, Michael´s not aware of it yet... but I´m sure he´s not gonna be surprised when we all pop up at his door!

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  18. Yay what an idea lol! Poor old Michael though i'm not sure he's up to all of us. Not at the same time anyway. In fact, maybe it should just be me ... first... LOL !!!

    The share property thing sounds so good. Thanks for alerting me Mon'. Let me know any developments lol

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  19. Yay what an idea lol! Poor old Michael though i'm not sure he's up to all of us. Not at the same time anyway. In fact, maybe it should just be me ... first... LOL !!!

    The share property thing sounds so good. Thanks for alerting me Mon'. Let me know any developments lol

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  20. I'll gladly play the banjo (a sure way to get you to leave when I need the flat to myself), but otherwise,
    don't pay attention to Monica. She's had one too many caïpirinhas and she's talking nonsense!

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  21. Come on Michael, the gang loved the idea, too late now to convince them otherwise.
    Lynn and I have been looking for a place to party in Paris for a long time, how did we not think of chez vous before??!!

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