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The former “Les Récollets” convent, now an International Scientific and Cultural Reception Centre, is located in Paris’ 10th arrondissement, near Gare de l’Est station. The overall area of the Centre’s premises totals around 6,800 m2. As part of its rôle as a reception centre, 81 furnished flatlets and studio/apartments are available, viz: 14 studio flatlets of 25 to 29 m2 used solely for accommodation, 55 units of 30 to 49 m2 for use as accommodation or as accommodation/workspaces, 12 larger studio/apartments, ranging from 50 to 120 m2 The centre operates on a quasi-hotel basis; the flatlets and studio/apartments are furnished and benefit from hotel-like services. The centre is also home (in around 1,200 m2) to the Ordre des Architectes d’Ile de France, an organisation representing the Corporation of Architects in the Paris region. In addition, it houses a cultural activities association, whose job it is to bring to life the relations between the centre and its catchment area, the 10th arrondissement. |
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The French government has chosen to turn this historic site into a Europe-wide reception centre for artists and scientists, intellectuals and university students, by making accommodation available to them, to make it easier for them to come and stay in Paris in connection with their work. Some studio/apartments have also been created, to allow artists to work creatively during their stay in Paris, and hence encourage exchanges in this field. This choice was made following consultations, when the Régie Immobilière de la Ville de Paris [City of Paris Property Services] was appointed as commissioning agent for the conversion of the complex and to manage it for the next 50 years. Day-to-day running has been delegated to the R.I.V.P.’s ‘quasi-hotel’ subsidiary. This rôle is in line with the project steering committee’s proposals and with the ideas put forward by voluntary organisations from Paris’ 10th arrondissement. |
