About
Parc de la Villette, in Paris, was the first major landscape design to draw upon deconstructionist philosophy. It was the result of a competition won by Bernard Tschumi. Tired of the old idea of a ‘park’, Tschumi wished to design ‘the largest discontinuous building in the world’. Jacques Derrida, the philosopher, encouraged him to consider form before function. This anti-modernist approach ‘deconstructed’ the traditional procedure. Tschumi laid down three geometries: of points, lines and curves. Clashes were encouraged. The points took the form of a collection of steel pavillions, inspired by Russian Constructivist art and painted red. The primary lines are not unlike traditional French avenues. The most dramatic curved feature is the Cinematic Promenade. Alongside the Promenade are a number of themed areas. Alexandre Chemetoff’s Bamboo Garden is an exotic oasis. There is a Fog Garden (by Alain Pélisier), a Dragon Garden, a Mirror Garden (by Tschumi), a Wind and Dune Garden.

Related to his theoretical work on ‘event space’, his proposal for a distinctly urban park called for the deployment of a number of abstract, programless structures, dubbed 'follies'. It was intended that the bright red structures would then house various events and groups related to the activities of the park. Many do just that, but not all, and not always the activities envisaged.

Opening Dates and Times: All year Daily Open 24 hours/day

Public Admission: Entrance free