99% Invisible Chambre de Bonne
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Apr 2, 2024 
Reporter Jeanne Boëzec shares compelling insights into the chambre de bonne apartments in Paris, small living spaces once reserved for servants that now cater to young newcomers seeking affordable housing. She explores the cramped accommodations and the irony of nostalgia tied to these iconic rooms. Jeanne highlights the stark socio-economic divide in the city, illustrating how these apartments have evolved from humble beginnings to trendy spaces, raising urgent questions about the future of affordable housing in an ever-changing urban landscape.
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Clementine's Chambre de Bonne
- Clementine Spillur moved to Paris and worked for a wealthy family.
- They provided her with a chambre de bonne, a small Parisian apartment.
Chambre de Bonne: Symbolism
- Chambres de bonne are small, often cramped apartments at the top of buildings in Paris.
- They represent affordable housing, but highlight the stark class divide.
Haussmann's Paris
- Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s, driven by Napoleon III, created wide boulevards and avenues.
- This destroyed working-class areas and led to the creation of luxury buildings.