"It all started with an engraving by Gustave Dore and turned into 5,000 square metres of fake polystyrene bricks. Then, after fantasizing over paintings of De Chirico, we had more than 50 painters and sculptors working as craftsmen of mold, rust and humidiy. The set for "The City of Lost Children" was the object of a permanent exchange with Caro and Jeunet concerning the right atmosphere. We came out with references as varied and precise as Otto Dix and G. D. Friedrich, Gustave Eifffel, the streets of the Casbah, the London docks or the canals of Venice... One hell of mix... that we forgot as soon as possible to find the set's own logic, volume and colour. We set out with strong desires, the dreams of spoiled brats, and ended up in Europe's largest studio in Arpajon, a fundamental decision to make shooting as easy and fast as possible (...). A lot of people and work but with everyone highly motivated to create the setting for such a beautiful and surprising tale."
(Jean Rabasse - Set Designer)