Cantal. Portrait of a woman passionate about industrial architecture: Marie-Françoise Laborne

See my news
Follow News Cantal

The Inter-Ages University of Aurillac made no mistake, a guide to architectural awareness was bound to excite the guests of this conference of November 14, 2024. Industrial architecture Paris & surroundings by Marie-Françoise Laborne, has already been reissued several times since its release in 2003. The work, which tours industrial architecture in Île-de-Franceis a continuation of its previous successes, notably The maddening of the banks of the Seineand best-seller which explores 19th and early 20th century holiday homes on the banks of the Seine.

A book on the industrial heritage of Ile-de-France

In Industrial architecture Paris & surroundings, Marie-Françoise Laborne draws up the portrait of a heritage in transformation. She shows how, from end of the 19th century century to the present day, the industrial buildings -factories, warehouses, workshops- have marked the landscape of the capital and its surroundings. These constructions, sometimes reassigned to new functionstell stories of power, of progressbut also suffering and work. The work explores the materials which compose them, from cut stone to reinforced concrete, including metal and glassand highlights the beauty of these buildings often signed by great architects.

The work is a true guideclassified chronologically, which invites you to discover iconic sitessuch as the castle of White Queencreated by the Gobelins in the 17th century, until the last waste-to-energy plant in the Syctomawhich is scheduled to open in 2025. “ The photos are mainly from me, that’s what is most difficult for me,” confides Marie-Françoise with modesty.

A passion for architecture and small bookstores

The work is part of a dedicated collection to different architectural styles and movements. But the author does not just write: “I fiercely defend small independent bookstores and you will find my books at the bookstore Semicolonbut also in bookstores in Figeac, Rodez or Conques.

Marie-Françoise Laborne does not intend to stop there. She is already thinking about a new project relating to architectural heritage of Cantalparticularly employers' and workers' cities, an area that she knows well after having worked ongarden cities and social housing.

Industrial architecture Paris & surroundings, published by Parigramme at the price of €14.

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.