A Bold Vision in Noisy-le-Grand
In the early 1980s, an ambitious architectural project rose in the Paris suburbs. Conceived by Spanish architect Manuel Núñez Yanowsky in 1981 and inaugurated in 1985, Les Arènes de Picasso quickly became one of the most recognizable housing complexes in France.
With its vast octagonal plaza and monumental cylindrical towers, the site drew attention for its unusual and imposing design.
An Octagonal Heart
At the center of the complex lies the Place Pablo-Picasso, an octagonal square crossed by two main axes running north-south and east-west. The square’s perimeter is almost entirely enclosed by buildings, except for the southern side, creating a defined urban stage.
The design combines geometric rigor with monumental scale, setting it apart from typical suburban housing projects of the time.
Cylinders in the Landscape
The most distinctive elements are the two colossal cylindrical towers placed on the east and west edges of the plaza. These towers, nicknamed the “camemberts” by local residents due to their round shape, are partially embedded in the surrounding buildings.
Together with the adjoining structures, they form an abstract representation of an overturned chariot, a bold artistic gesture translated into concrete.
A City Within a City
Les Arènes de Picasso was designed not just as housing but as a multifunctional urban complex. It contains 540 apartments along with facilities for daily life, including a nursery, a secondary school, other educational spaces, and several shops.
This integration of services made the site more than a residential area, aligning it with the broader vision of the French “villes nouvelles” movement of the 1960s and 1970s.
From Conception to Inauguration
Located in the Pavé-Neuf district of Noisy-le-Grand, within the department of Seine-Saint-Denis, the project reflected the experimental spirit of the era’s urban development. Manuel Núñez Yanowsky’s design was both admired and criticized, drawing commentary from figures such as architect Christian de Portzamparc.
He observed that such creations provided the monumental landmarks that the new towns of the Paris region often lacked. From its conception in 1981 to its completion in 1985, Les Arènes de Picasso established itself as a landmark of bold architectural ambition in suburban France.
In the suburbs of Paris, a bold architectural creation took shape in the 1980s.
Les Arènes de Picasso, designed by Manuel Núñez Yanowsky and inaugurated in 1985, stunned with its colossal forms, unusual geometry, and a vision that made it one of France’s most striking complexes. pic.twitter.com/5RrBMZpEaa— Fascinating True Stories (@FascinatingTrue) September 17, 2025