NDR/Arte

Terribly Beautiful Eyesores – Prefab Paradise

An ode to the sins of building! When it comes to architecture that is both loved and hated, prefabricated buildings are probably THE classics. Too much monotony in bulk. Author Jesse Simon has dedicated an entire photo book to these concrete giants. His fascination for the blocks of flats is infectious. The dimensions that social housing can take on can be seen in Genoa, where a gigantic, brutalist concrete snake towers over the city. In Paris, the future of apartment blocks is already being celebrated. Here, innovative ways are being found to give the concrete blocks a surprising new look.

First broadcast: 29.09.2024 at 08:50 on ARTE

Writer/Director: Katharina Röben
Camera: Chris Valentien, Paul Pflüger, Sven Jakob-Engelmann
Sound: Timothée Legoedec, Andrea Schmidt, Jörg Theiss
Sound mixing: Pierre Brand
Editing: Imke Koseck
Graphics and animation: Andreea Wende, Michael Wende
Production: Franziska Henkel
Production management (NDR): Melanie Clausen
Editorial office (NDR): Claudia Cellarius
Producers: Maria Willer, Bernhard von Hülsen

A production of 3B-Produktion
Commissioned by NDR, in co-operation with ARTE.