Le Mirail has a reputation as one of the most deprived and most dangerous suburbs in Toulouse. I decided to check out the brutalist architecture and see how it felt to wander as a non-French speaking street photographer.
 
I took the metro to Le Mirail - Universite station, where I started my adventure.
 
It was a very hot summer day and due to the university being closed for the holidays, the area around the station was quiet. Groups of men sat outside restaurants and I was greeted with the occasional  'Bonjour'. I had a brief chat with a restaurant owner while taking some shots for Instagram and received a free orangina, which was greatly appreciated.
 
After a while it became clear that my movements were being closely watched. Occasionally I was asked what I was doing, but it felt more like curiosity and after a short explanation I was left alone. 
 
The university is a short walk from the station and seeing people walking through the campus I decided to follow. The buildings are covered with large scale street art works, add the wide open spaces and modern buildings and you have a safe interesting location for a photoshoot.

Moving back through the station I felt it was now time to explore deeper into Le Mirail. I headed to a high rise residential area that I had seen in the distance and started to photograph the decay I had gone there to see. Noticing a market was just finishing, I crossed the road to photograph the activity, but diverted as I spotted an excavator ripping a high rise apart. Standing on concrete blocks I was able to photograph over the security panels as the machine exposed layer after layer of what would have until recently been someone's home.

Speaking to the security guard I was directed to a building opposite that appeared to be waiting for demolition. There had clearly been a fire in the building and the lifts no longer worked. When I tried to climb the stairs I found my way was blocked and the stench became overpowering. It was after entering the building that the attention that I was attracting increased. The friendly curiosity I had experienced near the station was replaced with suspicion. I continued taking photos for some time until I was politely asked to stop, as people were becoming angry.

At no time did I feel in danger in Le Mirail, but it is important to respect the rights of others.

I hope you like the images