This exhibition aims to breathe new life into the glass from the iconic “sage leaf” windows of the Tours Nuages in Nanterre. Installed on the ground floor of one of the Tours Nuages, it highlights this architectural complex by Émile Aillaud—designated a 20th-Century Heritage Site—which is currently undergoing extensive renovation.
To mark Paris Design Week 2026, the European Heritage Days, and the urban renewal program for the Parc Sud neighborhood in Nanterre, the Pavillon de l’Arsenal is partnering with designers and architects Anaïs Fernon, Clémence Bondon, and Camille Sardet, as well as local cultural institutions, to present a group exhibition.
Bringing together 13 creators, artists, designers, and architects committed to repurposing neglected materials, “Revoir les Nuages” will present a collection of original works created from old windows, giving them a second life and a new purpose. Following the exhibition and after it has been shown at other institutions in Nanterre—notably La Terrasse art space and the Hauts-de-Seine Council for Architecture, Urban Planning, and the Environment (CAUE92)—the works will be donated to local organizations.
For the Pavillon de l’Arsenal and its partners, this is also an opportunity to trace the history of these towers—which are part of Nanterre’s architectural heritage—and to reflect on the memories they evoke. In this large housing complex designed by architect Émile Aillaud in 1973, the “sage leaf” silhouette embodies the desire to bring poetry as close as possible to the residents.
Building on the collaboration with muralist Fabio Rieti for the colorful mosaics on the facades and with Laurence Rieti for the monumental sculpture “Serpent,” the exhibition “Revoir les Nuages” aims to continue this legacy of collective creation and contribute to the vitality of this unique neighborhood.
Leading up to its opening and throughout its run, a full program of activities and events will be organized around the exhibition in partnership with local cultural organizations—La Terrasse espace d’art, CAUE92, and neighborhood associations and residents.
Bringing together 13 creators, artists, designers, and architects committed to repurposing neglected materials, “Revoir les Nuages” will present a collection of original works created from old windows, giving them a second life and a new purpose. Following the exhibition and after it has been shown at other institutions in Nanterre—notably La Terrasse art space and the Hauts-de-Seine Council for Architecture, Urban Planning, and the Environment (CAUE92)—the works will be donated to local organizations.
For the Pavillon de l’Arsenal and its partners, this is also an opportunity to trace the history of these towers—which are part of Nanterre’s architectural heritage—and to reflect on the memories they evoke. In this large housing complex designed by architect Émile Aillaud in 1973, the “sage leaf” silhouette embodies the desire to bring poetry as close as possible to the residents.
Building on the collaboration with muralist Fabio Rieti for the colorful mosaics on the facades and with Laurence Rieti for the monumental sculpture “Serpent,” the exhibition “Revoir les Nuages” aims to continue this legacy of collective creation and contribute to the vitality of this unique neighborhood.
Leading up to its opening and throughout its run, a full program of activities and events will be organized around the exhibition in partnership with local cultural organizations—La Terrasse espace d’art, CAUE92, and neighborhood associations and residents.
