From Old Chapel to Thrift Shop and Social Housing / Tectône

The chapel of the ≪Avenue de la Liberte≫ in Charenton is the living and working space of one of the first ≪Emmaus≫ communities in France since the 70s. Emmaus is a solidarity movement founded in Paris in 1949 by Abbe Pierre to combat poverty and homelessness. Emmaus is a secular organization, but communities around the world have kept the biblical name because of its symbolism. The charity provides formerly homeless people with a home and work, usually collecting, sorting, and reselling donated furniture and household goods in thrift shops. People welcomed by Emmaus are called ≪companions≫ In 2018, Emmaus Liberte appointed tectōne for a full renovation and refurbishment of their historical site. Our mission was to provide a clean, clear, and adapted to our contemporary world place of work and life for the community.