THE IMAGE. The building of the former UGC cinema is now a gigantic “skeleton” in the heart of Toulouse

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Par David Saint Sernin
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The building of the former UGC cinema has become a gigantic “skeleton”. (©David Saint-Sernin/Actu Toulouse)

The construction site is not to be missed a stone’s throw from the Jean-Jaurès station, Toulouse city center. You just have to look up at the subway exit to see that the building belongs to the former UGC cinema has become a gigantic “skeleton”.

Fnac will move there

On Friday, March 16, 2023, only the heavy infrastructure of this building remained. The machines revolve around the building that will host in particular in 2025 Fnacwhich will leave the building of the Americans and cross the alleys of Roosevelt to settle on 4000 m² of surface.

Next to Fnac, the offices will occupy one floor, or approximately 1,000 m² of the 5,000 m² surface. And on the top floor, on the roofs, there will be a restaurant with a rooftop. With a commercial area of ​​350 m² (without kitchens), with a green terrace of 500 m², it offers a panoramic view of the Ramblas.

On six levels

Between the cellar to be excavated and the future roof, the new Variétés building counts six levels.

The project is supported by Caso Patrimoine, which acquired the building and four adjacent buildings in May 2019 for 23 million euros.

This is what the facade of the former UGC, future cultural trade, would look like according to the plans of Caso Patrimoine. Caroline and Sophie Monné asked architect Pierre-Louis Taillandier to be inspired by the old plans of the Théâtre des Variétés
This is what the facade of the former UGC, future cultural trade, would look like according to the plans of Caso Patrimoine. Caroline and Sophie Monné asked architect Pierre-Louis Taillandier to be inspired by the old plans of the Théâtre des Variétés (©Casa Patrimoine)

180 years of history

It is therefore a new chapter in the history of this building that is currently being opened.

For 180 years this building welcomed the public theater sessions or from cinema.

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Built in 1837, and after being assigned to a theater, this building became a cinema in the first half of the 20th century.e century. Then, in the 1960s, it even became the largest cinema in Toulouse.

A six-room UGC multiplex built in 1976, the building was listed as a historic monument in 1974. The UGC finally closed its doors to the public in 2019.

The Théâtre des Variétés in Toulouse became a cinema with the arrival of the cinematograph. We could come and see the latest novelties.
The Théâtre des Variétés in Toulouse became a cinema with the arrival of the cinematograph. We could come and see the latest novelties. (© City Archives of Toulouse)

The upcoming project will also make a nod to this story, because in addition to the name “Les Variétés”, which will be adopted, the project leader has asked the architect to be inspired by the old plans of the Théâtre des Variétés, which was the first life of this building built between 1836 and 1837.


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