From Bidonville to Ville Nouvelle: The Built Heritage of Migrant Workers in Post-War France

Abstract

The heritage of migrant workers in the construction industry of post-war France remains, until today, a little discussed topic. By focusing on two concrete instances, the bidonville and the ville nouvelle, this essay explores how the labour and dwelling practices of migrant workers shaped the French urban territory during the so-called Thirty Glorious Years. The text argues that this forgotten heritage maintains a reciprocal relation with the visions, activities and concerns of other actors such as politicians, architects and urban designers.

Keywords
France, Thirty Glorious Years, Migrant workers, Bidonville, Ville nouvelle