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Every year the Cité Internationale accommodates 10,000 students, researchers and artists in its 40 houses.
A House for students at the École Nationale des Industries Agricoles et Alimentaires (ENSIA), which changed its name to AgroParisTech on 1 January 2007
In the 1940s, ENSIA needed accommodation for its students in Paris. Spurred on by students, alumni and the school director, it explored a number of options (Hôtel Univers de Paris, a town house in Courbevoie). None met the requirements. The Ministry of Agriculture eventually agreed to finance construction of a House at the Cité Internationale. The project was signed on 12 March 1954. The National Association of French Millers also provided funding for some 20 beds.
The House of Agriculture and Food Industry was designed by the architects Francis Thieulin and Xavier de Vigan. Given their tight budget, they opted for simple volumes with two wings and a central stairwell. The various stages of construction are reflected in the colour: green lawns, horizontal pink at the foundations, and vertical lines in the same colour as the staircase. The building’s only real architectural distinction lies in its concrete-slab foundations, used to offset the quality of the soil below. Despite the underlying budgetary constraints, the designers lavished just as much attention on the interior. There are no north-facing rooms. The architects’ goal was clear: “Create a warmer feel within the House. The strong yellow used for the stairs invites visitors to climb, taking in the different storeys with their red, blue and green floor markings. The lively colours on the walls reflect the personality of each room.”