Viaduc des Arts

In 1853, the private company “Société de Chemin de Fer Paris Strasbourg” was granted to build a train line crossing Paris 12th arrondissement from Bastille to Verneuil l’Etang, going through Vincennes. This project implied considerable works such as digging tunnels or building infrastructure objects such as the “Viaduc de la Bastille” a 1,5 km long viaduct made of 64 vaults. The train line was opened in 1859, but ceased in 1969 after the creation of the RER A line into which a part of the line was integrated, while the Paris-Vincennes was completely abandoned.

In 1979, the APUR (Atelier Parisien d’Urbanisme) was commissioned to rethink the disused viaduct that follows the Rue de Lyon and the Avenue Daumesnil, along with the choice of reconverting the station of Bastille into a new Opera house (Opera Bastille). Two options came up for the future of the viaduct :

• The first option was to demolish it in order to implement new buildings along the street.
• The second option was to reconvert the railroad into a promenade, and to make use of the space under the vaults as well as of the dilapidated plots neighbouring the viaduct.

But the presence of well maintained building directly behind the viaduct dismissed the first option. In fact, the rehabilitated viaduct could host many activities and constitute a much more welcoming façade for the Avenue Daumesnil.

In 1983, the implementation of the “Promenade Plantée” linking Place de la Bastille to Bois de Vincennes constituted one of the most important projects for the revitalization of the Eastern neighbourhoods of Paris. The project was run by landscape architect Jacques Vergely and architect Philippe Mathieux.

In 1988, the proposition of the architect Patrick Berger was chosen for the reconversion of the arcades into a strip of art galleries, and the first part of the promenade plantée (from Rue Picpus to Rue Michel Bizot) was opened one year later. The inauguration of the vaults started in 1994 until 1997 when the last vaults were opened.[1]

The design of the rehabilitation project mainly consist on cleaning the viaduct and closing the vaults with a glass wall on the two sides. The central part of the arches were cleared out in order to add relief in the façade and let the shadow underline the curved shape.[2] This intervention enabled the use of the 64 vaults whose size varies between 150 and 460 m² and the implementation of a strip of art galleries and cafés.[1]

• Atelier Le Tallec - Handmade porcelain decoration [3]
• Atelier Maurice Dupont - Music instruments and accessories
• Silka Design Tzuri Gueta - Textile and silicon jewelry [4]
• Ateliers du Temps Passé - Paintings and restoration of art objects [5]
• Aurélie Cherell - Women's fashion and wedding dresses [6]
• Créations Cherif - Contemporary design furniture
• Atelier Michel Fey - Leather work [7]
• Le Bonheur des Dames - Embroidery work [8]
• Tissus Malhia Kent - Textile making for Haute-Couture [9]
• Aisthesis - Art cabinet making [10]
• Atelier Guigue Locca - Restoration and creation of furniture [11]
• Roger Lanne Luthier - Restoration and creation of violins and cellos [12]
• Parasolerie Heurtault - Umbrellas and parasol making [13]

• Viaduc Café [14]
• Restaurant l'Arrosoir [15]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Viaduc des Arts.

• Le Viaduc des Arts Official website
• Patrick Berger Official page
• SEMAEST Official page
• Paris Tourism Office on Promenade Plantée
• Mairie de Paris 12 Official page
• Ateliers de Paris Official page