Common Areas

Veranda, lobby, stairwell, elevator, hallway, communal terrace, walkway, bicycle storage, vegetable garden… what do the structure and everyday use of communal spaces reveal about our society?

Never before has a study examined communal spaces from an architectural perspective within the French context. The exhibition “Communal Spaces,” curated by Aldric Beckmann and Jean-Philippe Hugron, makes this examination possible. Based on historical and contemporary analyses, the exhibition is aimed at urban planners and residents of Paris and the surrounding area. It invites visitors to consider these familiar places as complex spatial structures and to analyze their design and use.

The exhibition “Communal Spaces” investigates the architectural, social, and economic aspects of these everyday spaces using a comprehensive collection of archival documents, plans, and diagrams. Case studies of metropolitan architecture, which describe the various typologies of communal areas in detail, are complemented by research on their current use, incorporating photographs, personal accounts, and artistic representations.

As central hubs of social interaction, communal spaces function as indispensable and tangible social networks for city dwellers. However, given a tight housing market and increasing urban density, the allocation of space for communal areas presents a new challenge for private and public planners. Although they are increasingly seen as a space to be reduced, they remain a desirable target for some architects, landlords, and developers who wish to optimize their proportions and potential uses.

Opening: November 25, 2025, 7 p.m.