PISCINE MOLITOR 1987-2007

The underground art scene

Piscine Molitor closed its doors in 1987 and was set to get torn down until a group of protestors called “SOS Molitor” successfully petitioned to list the abandoned pool as a historical building.

Despite being saved from destruction and declared a historical monument the pool slowly started to descend into disrepair and was soon taken over by skateboarders and graffiti artists, becoming the core of Paris’ urban culture. During this time the Art Deco walls, stained glass windows and tiled pool became covered top to bottom in graffiti and street art. The empty pool that once hosted olympians, models and the Who’s Who of Parisian, now hosted rave parties, punk concerts, avant garde theater and underground art shows.