Xavier Barnet

"The failures of urban and architectural projects lie at the heart of my current photographic approach. My new series sheds light on three iconic buildings that sparked much hope but have sometimes disappointed their developers and residents.
Firstly, there is the renowned Cité Radieuse in Marseille, France. This project, designed by architect Le Corbusier in the 1950s, was intended to be a model of an ideal city, where residents could live in modern and spacious apartments with well-designed communal spaces. Unfortunately, reality turned out differently: some residents quickly began to complain about issues such as insulation, noise, and security, leading to costly renovations and social conflicts.
The second building is the Vele di Scampia in Naples, Italy. Designed by architect Francesco di Salvo in the 1970s, this ambitious project aimed to provide affordable and modern housing for a growing population. However, problems arose swiftly. The initial plans were modified to a less airy structure with tighter buildings. Due to an earthquake, the region's most vulnerable residents had to be relocated and sought refuge in these buildings before their completion. The site was quickly taken over and managed by the local mafia. Living conditions deteriorated rapidly, public spaces were poorly maintained, and violence became commonplace. Today, the residents of Vele di Scampia await a decision from the authorities regarding its potential renovation or demolition...
Lastly, we travel to Turkey to focus on Burj al Babas, an ambitious luxury real estate development project targeting wealthy buyers from the Persian Gulf. It was supposed to include 732 villas inspired by Gothic architecture, including the Galata Tower and the Leander Tower, both located in Istanbul, as well as a wide range of leisure facilities. However, the project soon faced financial difficulties, and most of the villas are now vacant and unfinished.
To undertake this project, I chose to work in two ways, using both digital and film cameras, to capture the diversity of textures and atmospheres of the different buildings. Through this photographic series, I hope to contribute to a broader reflection on how urban and architectural projects can succeed or fail, and the consequences of these successes or failures on the communities that inhabit them."