La Fabrique Saint-Blaise

One of the densest areas in Europe, the Saint-Blaise district in Paris is an urban policy focal point that is undergoing profound changes, including the opening of La Fabrique Saint-Blaise in December 2012.

A community space, La Fabrique works in close cooperation with residents to develop tools and practices that improve the living environment and place public spaces in citizens’ hands. La Fabrique is a place for resources, discussion and creation, where residents, associations, municipal authorities and property owners can join forces to “make” together. 

La Fabrique places equal importance on everyday life in the neighbourhood and inventing new possibilities for the community, through workshops, signage, murals and serigraphy. A graphic workspace open to the public, the centre focuses both on graphic forms and jointly developing projects.

In late 2015, the project led to the creation of the Fabriquants, or “makers”, a group of residents who meet regularly to create images for the neighbourhood. The meetings are a time for producing work, but especially for putting forward working processes and steps. The individual and group works are displayed to showcase residents’ diversity and creativity.