Last week, the Project X Paris team organized a photo shoot in the abandoned Aincourt Sanatorium a former hospital that treated patients suffering from tuberculosis. Built in 1929 and closed in the early 1990s, the hospital has experienced several epidemics; during the Second World War, it was used as a prison (around 1,500 male and female prisoners were deported to the Auschwitz concentration camps). In the 1970s, the hospital was restored on the initiative of its director, who was passionate about Zen gardens. He created a real Japanese garden, with waterfalls and small bridges, to purify the place. In short, back then, the sanatorium looked nothing like it does today.
After the sanatorium was closed for lack of income, it was completely abandoned. Within 10 years, all that remained of the sanatorium were the remains of a hospital that saw many tuberculosis patients. Even today, between the long corridors and glass-strewn rooms, you can feel the history of this place steeped in suffering. This place attracts many fans of the paranormal: in this former hospital where so much misfortune occurred, you wouldn't be surprised to see some strange things appear...
But the hospital's closure was, in fact, its rebirth. Hard to reach, it has become one of the most attractive sites for street-artists, fans of UBREX (urban exploration), as well as for artists like DRY, Youssoupha, Sébastien Agius who shot their music videos here.
The artistic director of Project X Paris chose these premises for the shoot of the new collection because the underground spirit of this mysterious place was very much online with the brand's philosophy: young, dynamic, created for those who don't hesitate to follow their own codes.
Inspiration of the week - the most beautiful abandoned places in the world :
Kolmanskop in the Namib Desert
The abandoned Wonderland park near Beijing, China
A military hospital, Beelitz, Germany
Nara Dreamland theme park in Japan
