Fabled Factory Of Parisian Radicalism's Future Unclear

A defunct Renault plant is caught in a battle between those wishing to adapt the cradle of worker's rights and a billionaire's ego.

1 minute read

July 18, 2004, 9:00 AM PDT

By Jeffrey Goodman


The Renault auto plant west of the capital was the birthplace of the French trade union movement, not to mention some classic cars. And though the factory has been closed for more than a decade, the fate of the 90-year-old plant is still yet to be decided. Francois Pinault, a billionaire under investigation in California, has proposed the largest privately funded museum in Europe and offered $200 million in funds. Local leaders and the press claim he lacks the money and the know-how to manage the scheme. Many in the art world, as well as a growing number of Parisians, see Pinault's plan as an insult to the site's significance in modern French history. Taking up the entire Ile Seguin, former workers and local designers want to transform the industrial plan into useful post-industrial spaces for art, living, and working.

Thanks to Jeffrey Goodman

Friday, July 16, 2004 in The Independent Weekly

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight