Marie
Levoyet

Which place do you currently call home and where do you work on your projects?

I live in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, to the north-east, in the Ménilmontant district.

My studio, where I work every day, is located south of Paris in Sèvres. In a former building of the Manufacture Nationale de Céramique de Sèvres, my studio is part of a project called Le Jardin des Métiers d’Art et du Design, where 15 other craftsmen and designers have their own studio too.

Do you have a favourite place in your area where you like to relax and linger?

The Willy Ronis Belvedere in Parc de Belleville, near my home, high above the city with a view that reaches far and wide, and Parc de Belleville just below, whose lawns are perfect for relaxing, especially in summer.

Are there any urgent political issues or problems in your region?

Access to housing, basic necessities and cultural offerings for people in need or in exile are, in my view, priorities that could be greatly improved.

In your opinion, what has developed well in the last 5 years, and what has not?

I like to see new artisan workshops opening up on the streets, but it’s becoming very complicated with the rise in rents.

Do you know a hidden gem when it comes to local manufacturers, whether it’s arts and crafts, sustainable products or food?

Laverdure’s store produces a full range of supplies and raw materials for the arts and crafts, including pigments. The store is an old-fashioned store that smells of turpentine.

Is there anything particularly innovative in your region? Also in comparison to other places you have already visited?

What I like about Paris, but I think this is the case in most big cities, is the immensity of the cultural offer, on varied and precise subjects with an openness to the world.

Do you have a secret restaurant tip that you would like to share with us?

In my neighborhood, I love a place that isn’t really a restaurant but rather a bar, with concerts and literary gatherings—Lou Pascalou. They serve a beer brewed in Paris in the 20th arrondissement, La baleine, including one called La Gitane, an amber beer smoked with peat.

Is there a local shop whose products are only available in your region?

There’s a bookshop in Ménilmontant called Monte en l’Air. It offers a selection of fanzines by artists from different worlds, often in very small runs. You can probably find them elsewhere, but Le Monte en l’Air has a very good stock of rare editions.

What are your 3 favourite apps that you use every day and couldn’t live without?

The first one I use, and if I had to keep just one for practical reasons, it would be CityMapper, a transport map that works in many cities around the world. Then there’s L’Oeil de la photographie, which allows me to follow some of the cultural news in photography and discover new artists. The AD magazine app is one of those I like to browse in the metro, and it also allows me to discover new practices.

And finally, It’s not an app, but an online site I check out regularly, Le Courrier des Balkans, which covers current events in this part of the world.

Do you have any favourite newspapers or online magazines? And how do you keep up to date with politics or social and cultural issues?

I like to read Courrier International, which gives me a more global view of current events in the foreign press.

Imagine you could be mayor for a year, what would you change?

I’d like to see more open spaces on the streets, places to sit at the bottom of buildings. Places that aren’t café terraces or parks, but informal spaces that allow us to live a little more outdoors.

One last question: If you could choose another place to live, regardless of financial or time constraints, which one would you choose?

I think I’d like to live in Istanbul, in and around the Kadikoy district. The sea, the river, the nearby islands, the cafés and a vibrant cultural scene have particularly appealed to me.