CIVIBADemocracy and Civic Practices

Space

Le Centquatre-Paris

París · Île-de-France · France

Art and territoryReuse of vacancyCommons and belonging2008

The former municipal funeral service of Paris (1874-1997), refurbished for 109 million euros and reopened in 2008 as a public cultural institution. The original project failed and the building stayed cold and empty until it was reoriented in 2010. It now works mostly through appropriation: under its halls anyone can rehearse dance, circus or theatre for free, with no booking and no paid classes, and Le Cinq lends rooms to residents and local associations from 2 euros an hour. The tension is its cost in a working-class district.

Led by
The City of Paris, which restored the building and created a public cultural body to run it
Status
Active
Participation
Institution led, participatory
Visitable
Yes, Tuesday to Sunday; the halls are free and open access
Website
www.104.fr ↗
Contact
Form ↗
Last reviewed
7 September 2026

Verification

Verified

This place is verified through the first-hand knowledge of the atlas curator: a visit to the place or a relationship with the project, dated below. It is not a source you can check yourself, which is why it is declared this openly.

  • Verified two sources including a primary one, or first-hand knowledge of the place
  • Partial one source on record
  • Unverified starting knowledge, sources pending

Sources

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