View source for Maison Blanche station

{{Short description|Metro station in Paris, France}}
{{Infobox station
| name               = Maison Blanche
| style              = Paris Métro
| image              = Station Maison Blanche Métro Paris Ligne 7 - Paris XIII (FR75) - 2022-07-04 - 7.jpg
| alt                = 
| caption            = Line 7 platforms looking south
| other_name         = 
| address            = [[13th arrondissement of Paris]]
| borough            = [[Île-de-France]]
| country            = France
| coordinates        = {{coord|48.822155|2.358531|region:FR_scale:2000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| owned              = [[RATP Group|RATP]]
| operator           = [[RATP Group|RATP]]
| line               = 
| accessible         = At least one escalator or lift in the station between the street and the platform<ref>{{Cite map |date=May 2022 |title=Plan des lignes -personnes à mobilité réduite |trans-title=Line plan - persons with reduced mobility |url=https://www.ratp.fr/sites/default/files/inline-files/Paris_PMR.pdf |website=[[RATP Group|RATP]] |language=fr}}</ref>
| architect          = Groupe-6 (Line 14 station)
| zone               = [[Public transport fares in the Île-de-France|1]]
| opened             = {{Start date and age|1930|03|07|df=y}}
| closed             = <!-- {{End date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} -->
| services           = {{Adjacent stations|system=Paris Métro
|line1=7|left1=Le Kremlin–Bicêtre|right1=Tolbiac|type1=Villejuif branch
|line2=7|left2=Porte d'Italie|right2=Tolbiac|type2=Ivry branch
|line3=14|left3=Olympiades|right3=Hôpital Bicêtre
}}
| map_type           = France Paris
}}

'''Maison Blanche station''' ({{IPA|fr|mɛzɔ̃ blɑ̃ʃ|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-WikiLucas00-Maison Blanche.wav}}) is a station of the [[Paris Métro]], serving lines [[Paris Métro Line 7|7]] and [[Paris Métro Line 14|14]]. South of this station, Line 7 forks into two branches, one leading to {{stn|Villejuif–Louis Aragon}} and the other to {{stn|Mairie d'Ivry}}. Since June 2024, it is an interchange with Line 14 running southwards to [[Aéroport d'Orly station|Aéroport d'Orly]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Compagnon |first=Sébastian |last2=Gairaud |first2=Marie-Anne |date=2024-06-24 |title=Ligne 14 de Saint-Denis - Pleyel à l’aéroport d’Orly : " Ces nouvelles stations, c’est vraiment waouh ! " |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/info-paris-ile-de-france-oise/transports/ligne-14-de-saint-denis-pleyel-a-laeroport-dorly-ces-nouvelles-stations-cest-vraiment-waouh-24-06-2024-XCDH4PAG2RFYTLS4Z4VIVJT66Y.php |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=leparisien.fr |language=fr-FR}}</ref>

==Location==
The line 7 station is located under [[Avenue d'Italie]], between Rue Caillaux and Rue Bourgon, near [[Porte d'Italie]], a gate in the former [[Thiers Wall]]. Towards the south, this is the last station on the common trunk of line 7 before the branches separate, thanks to an underground [[Flying junction|grade-separated junction]] located after the station, one towards ''Mairie d'Ivry'' and the other towards ''Villejuif-Louis Aragon''. Oriented approximately along a north-south axis, it is positioned between ''Tolbiac'' on the one hand and ''Porte d'Italie'' (towards Ivry) or ''Le Kremlin-Bicêtre'' (towards Villejuif) on the other. On line 14, the station is between ''Olympiades'' and ''Hôpital Bicêtre''.

The line 14 station is located about {{Convert|21|m|ft}} deep between Rue Caillaux and Rue Tagore, along Avenue d'Italie, east of the current metro station of Line 7.

Access to the Line 14 and Line 7 platforms is from the centre of a large forecourt where the entrance to the metro is located. Travelers can use escalators or elevators to access the platforms. From the platforms, the connections are via the mezzanine.

The surface forecourt provides access to the [[Île-de-France tramway Lines 3a and 3b|T3a tram line]] or the Porte d'Italie bus hub. It also hosts a [[Véligo]] station.

==History==
=== Original station ===
It opened as part of a planned section of [[Paris Métro Line 7|Line 7]], which was temporarily operated as part of [[Paris Métro Line 10|Line 10]] until the completion of the under-[[Seine]] crossing of Line 7 from [[Sully - Morland (Paris Métro)|Pont de Sully]] to [[Place Monge (Paris Métro)|Place Monge]]. On 7 March 1930, the line was extended from [[Place d'Italie (Paris Métro)|Place d'Italie]] to [[Porte de Choisy (Paris Métro)|Porte de Choisy]], including ''Maison Blanche''. The station was integrated into line 7 on 26 April 1931. The station is named after the district, which got its name from a hotel of the same name, which is French for "White House".

Along with [[Place des Fêtes (Paris Métro)|Place des Fêtes]], a prototype air raid shelter was added to the station in 1935 to protect it from chemical attacks and was fitted with airtight doors to allow the people to take refuge inside in the event of an attack. They were chosen because of their proximity to the heavily populated working-class districts.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=29 June 2020|title=Un jour, une station : Maison Blanche, réputée invulnérable|url=https://www.ratp.fr/decouvrir/coulisses/au-quotidien/un-jour-une-station-maison-blanche-reputee-invulnerable|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908124116/https://www.ratp.fr/decouvrir/coulisses/au-quotidien/un-jour-une-station-maison-blanche-reputee-invulnerable|archive-date=8 September 2020|access-date=8 September 2020|website=RATP}}</ref>

An attack was perpetrated by a terrorist group ([[Armed Islamic Group of Algeria|GIA]]) near the station on 6 October 1995. A gas cylinder placed in a trash can was discovered by a postman, but it exploded while the police set up a security perimeter; the toll was 18 injured.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ina.fr|first=Institut National de l’Audiovisuel-|title=Attentat avenue d'Italie|url=http://www.ina.fr/video/CAC95057283|access-date=3 May 2021|website=Ina.fr|language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=1 October 2007|title=Attentats de 1995: Ramda jugé à Paris|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/attentats-de-1995-ramda-juge-a-paris_466910.html|access-date=3 May 2021|website=LExpress.fr|language=fr}}</ref> The place was chosen to reference the circumstances of the arrest of [[Khaled Kelkal]], one of the main instigators of the RER B attack in Saint-Michel. A few days earlier, on 29 September 1995, the police had shot Kelkal during his arrest at a place called Maison Blanche, near [[Vaugneray]] ([[Rhône (department)|Rhône]]).<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Dubois|first1=Christophe|last2=Terrier|first2=Nelly|date=30 September 2002|title=Deux islamistes face aux 200 victimes des attentats de 1995|url=https://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/deux-islamistes-face-aux-200-victimes-des-attentats-de-1995-01-10-2002-2003449099.php|access-date=3 May 2021|website=leparisien.fr|language=fr-FR}}</ref>

As part of RATP's ''Renouveau du métro'' renewal program, the station corridors and platform lighting were renovated on 4 October 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SYMBIOZ - Le Renouveau du Métro|url=https://www.symbioz.net/index.php?id=42|access-date=3 May 2021|website=www.symbioz.net}}</ref>

In 2019, 1,803,381 travellers entered this station, which placed it at the 259th position of 302 among the metro stations for its number of visitors.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trafic annuel entrant par station du réseau ferré 2019|url=https://dataratp2.opendatasoft.com/explore/dataset/trafic-annuel-entrant-par-station-du-reseau-ferre-2019/table/?sort=-rang&q=Maison+Blanche|access-date=2021-05-03|website=dataratp2.opendatasoft.com|language=fr}}</ref>

=== Extension of line 14 ===
[[File:Station Maison Blanche Métro Paris Ligne 14 - Paris XIII (FR75) - 2024-06-26 - 9.jpg|thumb|left|Line 14 station platform on opening day]]

Early plans to extend [[Paris Métro Line 14|Line 14]] south from Paris included the possibility of taking over the existing Line 7 branch from the station to Villejuif – Louis Aragon, which opened in the early 1980s.

In the 2010s, discussions took place regarding whether to extend Line 14 further south to [[Orly Airport]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2022-03-10 |title=Projet Métro ligne 14 Prolongement Olympiades > Aéroport d'Orly |url=https://www.iledefrance-mobilites.fr/le-reseau/projets/metro-14-prolongement-olympiades-aeroport-d-orly |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=Île-de-France Mobilités |language=fr-fr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=29 April 2009 |title=Développement de la région capitale (Development of the capital region) |url=http://i44.tinypic.com/24w80us.jpg |accessdate=25 September 2009 |publisher=French government |language=French |archive-date=5 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005043652/http://i44.tinypic.com/24w80us.jpg |url-status=dead }}</ref> The declaration of public utility was in 2016, allowing construction on the extension to begin.<ref name=":1" /> The extension was originally planned to be completed in 2027, however delivery was accelerated to 2024 following the awarding of the [[2024 Summer Olympics|Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games]].<ref name=":22">{{Cite news |date=2024-06-04 |title=Paris' metro Line 14 completes tests 20 days before inauguration |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/transport/article/2024/06/04/paris-metro-line-14-completes-tests-20-days-before-inauguration_6673720_216.html |access-date=2024-06-10 |work=Le Monde.fr |language=en}}</ref>

The preparatory work at Maison Blanche took place from November 2016 until the end of 2017. The construction of the station began in 2018 for commissioning in 2024.<ref name="Mais">{{Cite web |date=28 April 2017 |title=Maison Blanche – Paris XIIIe |url=https://www.societedugrandparis.fr/gpe/gare/maison-blanche-paris-xiiie |access-date=3 May 2021 |website=Société du Grand Paris |language=fr}}</ref> It was awarded in March 2018 to [[Léon Grosse]] in a consortium with [[Soletanche|Soletanche Bachy France]].<ref>{{Cite journal |date=8 March 2018 |title=La RATP donne le coup d'envoi des travaux de génie civil de la ligne 14 sud |url=https://www.lemoniteur.fr/article/la-ratp-donne-le-coup-d-envoi-des-travaux-de-genie-civil-de-la-ligne-14-sud.1955159 |language=fr}}</ref> Tunnelling work was completed in March 2021, with the arrival of a [[tunnel boring machine]] at Maison Blanche.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-03 |title=Le tunnel du prolongement de la ligne 14 sud est terminé - Travaux {{!}} RATP |url=https://www.ratp.fr/groupe-ratp/newsroom/travaux/le-tunnel-du-prolongement-de-la-ligne-14-sud-est-termine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309164315/https://www.ratp.fr/groupe-ratp/newsroom/travaux/le-tunnel-du-prolongement-de-la-ligne-14-sud-est-termine |archive-date=2021-03-09 |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=RATP}}</ref> In April 2023, testing of trains on the Line 14 extension began,<ref>{{Cite web |title=La 14 passe à 8 voitures sur toute la ligne ! |url=https://prolongementligne14-orly.fr/actualites/la-14-passe-8-voitures-sur-toute-la-ligne-2620 |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=Prolongement d'Olympiades à Aéroport d'Orly de la ligne 14 du métro |language=fr |archive-date=22 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522235849/https://prolongementligne14-orly.fr/actualites/la-14-passe-8-voitures-sur-toute-la-ligne-2620 |url-status=dead }}</ref> with an opening date of 24 June 2024 set.<ref name=":22"/>

Maison Blanche is the only station built in Paris as part of the [[Grand Paris Express]], under the contracting authority of [[RATP Group|RATP]].

The design of the station is entrusted to the consortium led by the engineers [[Société d'études techniques et économiques|SETEC TPI]] and [[SYSTRA]] as well as to Mark Wilson of the Groupe-6 architecture firm.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=10 June 2015 |title=Grand Paris Express : les maîtres d'œuvre de la ligne 14 sud désignés |url=https://www.lemoniteur.fr/article/grand-paris-express-les-maitres-d-uvre-de-la-ligne-14-sud-designes.698909 |language=fr |access-date=3 May 2021}}</ref>

==== Architecture and art ====

Californian artist and environmentalist sculptor [[Ned Kahn]] created an art installation overlooking the station in coordination with Mark Wilson.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 December 2018 |title=Les gares du Grand Paris Express abriteront la plus grande collection d'art urbain d'Europe |url=https://www.societedugrandparis.fr/gpe/actualite/les-gares-du-grand-paris-express-abriteront-la-plus-grande-collection-dart-urbain |access-date=3 May 2021 |website=Société du Grand Paris |language=fr}}</ref> The work called ''River of Air'' is made of stainless steel and flexible sheets of [[ETFE]] (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) which will wave and reflect the sunlight above two of the station entrances.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Gréco |first1=Bertrand |last2=Kleiber |first2=Marie-Anne |date=18 December 2018 |title=EXCLUSIF. Voici les premiers projets d'œuvres destinées aux gares du Grand Paris Express |url=https://www.lejdd.fr/JDD-Paris/exclusif-voici-les-premiers-projets-doeuvres-destinees-aux-gares-du-grand-paris-express-3821924 |access-date=3 May 2021 |website=lejdd.fr |language=fr}}</ref> The height of the masts supporting the structure will be {{convert|10-12|m|ft}} and the sail will be {{convert|65|m|ft}} long and {{convert|11|m|ft}} wide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ned KAHN & Mark WILSON |url=https://www.culture-grandparisexpress.fr/ned-kahn-mark-wilson |access-date=3 May 2021 |website=www.culture-grandparisexpress.fr |language=fr |archive-date=22 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222221121/https://www.culture-grandparisexpress.fr/ned-kahn-mark-wilson |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Passenger services==
===Access===
The station has three entrances in front of no's 103, 144 and 162 in the Avenue d'Italie.

A fourth entrance, located at no. 119, was closed in November 2019 to allow the construction of the line 14 station. In return, the entrance located at no. 162 was rebuilt from 2016 to 2019 and provided with an escalator to exit the station.<ref>{{Cite web|date=22 November 2019|title=Un nouvel accès pour la station Maison Blanche (M7), bientôt complété d'un escalier mécanique en sortie|url=https://prolongementligne14-orly.fr/actualites/un-nouvel-acces-pour-la-station-maison-blanche-m7-bientot-complete-dun-escalier-mecanique|access-date=3 May 2021|website=Prolongement d'Olympiades à Aéroport d'Orly de la ligne 14 du métro|language=fr}}</ref>

===Station layout===
{| border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3
|style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;border-top:solid 1px gray;" width=50 valign=top|'''Street Level'''
|}
{| border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3
|style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;border-top:solid 1px gray;" width=50 valign=top|'''B1'''
|style="border-top:solid 1px gray;border-bottom:solid 1px gray;" width=100 valign=top|Connecting level
|}
{| border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3
|style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;" width=50 rowspan=10 valign=top|'''Line 7 platforms'''
|style="border-top:solid 1px gray;border-right:solid 2px black;border-left:solid 2px black;border-bottom:solid 2px black;text-align:center;" colspan=2|{{small|[[Side platform]], doors will open on the right}}
|-
|style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;" width=100|Southbound
|style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;" width=390|← [[File:Metro-M.svg|20px]] [[File:Paris m 7 jms.svg|20px]] toward {{stn|Villejuif–Louis Aragon}} {{small|({{stn|Le Kremlin-Bicêtre}})}}<br />← [[File:Metro-M.svg|20px]] [[File:Paris m 7 jms.svg|20px]] toward {{stn|Mairie d'Ivry}} {{small|({{stn|Porte d'Italie}})}}
|-
|Northbound
|{{0|→}} [[File:Metro-M.svg|20px]] [[File:Paris m 7 jms.svg|20px]] toward {{stn|La Courneuve–8 mai 1945}} {{small|({{stn|Tolbiac}})}} →
|-
|style="border-top:solid 2px black;border-right:solid 2px black;border-left:solid 2px black;border-bottom:solid 1px gray;text-align:center;" colspan=2|{{small|[[Side platform]], doors will open on the right}}
|}

===Platforms===
Maison Blanche is a standard configuration station. It has two platforms separated by the metro tracks and the vault is elliptical. The decoration is of the style used for the majority of metro stations. The lighting canopies are white and rounded in the ''Gaudin'' style of the ''renouveau du métro des années 2000'' renewal, and the bevelled white ceramic tiles cover the upright wall, the vault and the tunnel exits. The advertising frames are in honey-coloured [[faience]] and the name of the station is also in earthenware. The seats are ''Motte'' style in a blue colour.

===Bus connections===
The station is served by line 47 and by the urban service ''La Traverse Bièvre Montsouris'' of the [[RATP Bus Network]].

==Culture==
The station serves as the backdrop for an important scene from [[Günter Grass]]'s novel ''[[The Tin Drum]]'' (1960), in which the hero, Oscar Matzerath, sees the inspectors coming to arrest him as he walks towards the exit using the escalator.

==Nearby==
* [[Quartier asiatique]]
* Quartier de la Maison-Blanche

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Maison Blanche (Paris Metro)}}
{{Paris Metro/line 7}}
{{Paris Métro line 14 navbox}}
{{13th arrondissement of Paris}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maison Blanche (Paris Metro)}}
[[Category:Paris Métro stations in the 13th arrondissement of Paris]]
[[Category:Railway stations in France opened in 1930]]
[[Category:Railway stations in France opened in 2024]]
[[Category:Accessible Paris Métro stations]]
[[Category:Paris Métro line 14]]