The industrial site of electricity production at Saint-Denis, dedicated to powering street lighting and the Paris Metro, permanently ceased its activity in 1981. This plot of 6.5 hectares is the link between the Seine to the west and the Carrefour Pleyelto the east. After its first renovation project, entrusted to EDF in 1993, wasn’t realised , the architecture agency Reichmann et Robert & Associes was appointed in 2004 with its conversion into cinema city (The French energy giant EDF was originally tasked with renovating the building in 1993, but progress was limited and in 2004 Architects Reichmann et Robert & Associes were appointed to develop the design and its conversion into Cinema City.)
The architects, who are past masters in adaptive reuse programs, based their concept «on “On a relationship of continuity and harmony between the preserved architectural features and contemporary additions»”.
For the latter, Terreal presented a broad range of colour for selection to accentuate these different building elements. An ebony hue was chosen to contrast strongly with the ochre of the restored structures. The nave consists of a steel frame that has kept traces of oxidation and patina, as well as a concrete shell with saw tooth pilasters that are coated with the original ochre colour; while added building volumes are distinguished by an ebony colour that comes from the treatment of their shell with Terreal’s Piterak Slim terracotta panels.
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