Jean Dubuffet’s Tour aux Figures

Perched at the top of a hill, Dubuffet’s twenty-four-metre high and twelve-metre wide Tour aux Figures is a feature of the Parc Départemental de l’Île Saint-Germain in Issy-les-Moulineaux that really is hard to miss!

The peculiar structure, which is made of reinforced concrete and covered in an epoxy resin shell, features unmistakeable black designs against a white background with red and blue detailing. The style is typical of the so-called Hourloupe cycle developed by the artist himself. Originally, the tower was designed to be toured from the inside, where a set of black and white steps awaits. To access the 117 m-long “Gastrovolve” staircase nowadays though, you’ll need to be booked onto a guided tour – you can do this on the tower’s website. The steep climb takes you as close as you can get to the designs embellishing the structure’s ceiling.

The less adventurous, meanwhile, can head to the welcome area and facilities nearby. This space is free to visit during the tower’s opening hours, and features an exhibition, a video area showing archive footage and interviews with professionals, a virtual tour and a children’s play area. It’s the perfect place to explore the roots of design as seen by this innovative artist and pioneer of the Art Brut movement.