Goya needs repair, not demolition
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The Goya building, located in the Bellefontaine neighborhood of Le Mirail in southwest Toulouse, was designed in the 1960s by architects Candilis, Josic, and Woods to provide housing for working-class families and immigrants. While it is still managed by social housing agencies, years of neglect and poor maintenance have led to its deterioration.
Now slated for demolition under urban renewal plans, the relocation of residents is being conducted in an inhumane manner. Additionally, the Bellefontaine area suffers from stigma due to these harsh practices.
The NPNRU and the Threat to Goya
Since 2018, the Bellefontaine neighborhood has been undergoing profound changes under the Nouveau Programme National de Renouvellement Urbain (NPNRU), led by the Agence Nationale pour la Rénovation Urbaine (ANRU). Established in 2003, ANRU is a public body tasked with restructuring France's so-called "priority neighborhoods" to address issues of precarity, urban decay, and social imbalance. ANRU positions itself as a key player in urban reconfiguration, mobilizing substantial funds to redesign these spaces, often favoring demolition followed by reconstruction to "enhance the appeal" of targeted territories.
Within the NPNRU framework, the Goya building now faces the prospect of demolition, a decision rooted in a contested approach to urban renewal. The arguments put forth by ANRU typically include claims of structural dysfunction, non-compliance with modern standards of comfort, or the "necessary renewal" to attract new populations. However, our analysis demonstrates that these arguments are unfounded and obscure more complex dynamics, including symbolic disqualification and gentrification.
The aims of the ANRU
Changing the image and attractiveness of the neighborhood:
landscape, public spaces, facilities
Opening up and connecting the neighborhood:
a new, more readable and shared street network
Diversifying housing and activities:
renovations, new constructions
Too much social housing: 67% of the housing is social housing, and co-ownership structures are not
functioning -> „Social Mixity“
Counteracting boundaries and disruptive effects:
delinquency, trafficking, urban violence, incivility
We have rigorously examined the justifications for demolishing Goya, and for each argument, we have identified strong counterarguments that prove this destruction to be unnecessary. Our analyses are structured around six key themes: Material, Structure, Urban, Biotope, Functionality, Components, and Waste. These themes allow us to deconstruct official narratives and highlight the value and potential of Goya as a built resource.
Material
Goya was built using durable materials, whose rehabilitation is far less costly and polluting than their destruction.
Structure
The building’s foundations and structural design remain fully viable, disproving the notion of irreparable decay.
Urban
The argument for a new road connecting the north and south is misleading, as existing routes already serve this purpose with only a two-minute difference in travel time.
Biotope
The area around Goya harbors rich social and environmental dynamics that risk being obliterated by demolition.
Functionality
The building continues to meet the specific needs of many families and can be adapted without requiring full reconstruction.
Components
The existing architectural and technical elements are resources that should not be treated as disposable.
Waste
Demolition would generate a massive amount of waste, contradicting sustainability and ecological transition goals.
Our conclusion is unequivocal: demolishing Goya is not a solution but an additional problem. It reflects a short-term vision of urban renewal, ignoring the benefits that a thoughtful reinvestment could bring.
We will further develop an alternative vision for Goya’s future—one that prioritizes rehabilitation, the preservation of collective memory, and sustainability while respecting the needs of current and future residents.
Goya needs repair, not demolition
Tearing down Goya is (im)materially unnecessary, as it would unnecessary turn a functional architectural structure with ecological habitats and usable building components into waste.
“Never demolish, never remove or replace, always add, transform, and reuse!”
Lacaton & Vassal