Luxury and art powers appropriate working-class memory in Greater Paris

In Greater Paris, the transformation of former industrial sites into luxury and art hubs exemplifies the appropriation of working-class heritage by corporate powers. Two key projects illustrate this trend: Le Large on the historic Renault factory grounds on Île Seguin in Boulogne-Billancourt, and the Maison du Peuple in Clichy-la-Garenne. These developments, driven by major luxury groups, repurpose spaces once central to labor movements and industrial identity. The article criticizes how such projects sanitize and commodify collective memory, erasing the original social and political significance of these sites. The phenomenon reflects a broader dynamic where economic elites reshape urban landscapes, turning symbols of worker struggle into exclusive commercial and cultural venues. The piece, published in Le Monde on June 5, 2026, offers a critical perspective on this urban and cultural transformation.