Paris Changes the Future of Urban Form
Call me old-fashioned, but I was very disappointed to find out that Paris had lifted the ban on buildings over 37m. I discovered this change through the announcement of Herzog & de Meuron’s new 200m (650 ft) tower for Paris, as the first since the ban.
[Image: Paris roof-scape. Courtesy of PhOtOnQuAnTiQuE.]
To me Paris, more than any other city I have visited, is about the street. The anonymity of each building respects the street as the first priority in the hierarchy of urban form. This makes the city intimate and walkable.
[Image: A great diversity in facades can read as a single element. Courtesy of WikiMedia.]
[Image: Paris streetscape where cafes spill into the sidewalk. Courtesy of Marc Gauthier.]
Despite this sentiment, I understand and sympathize with the housing shortage in Paris. With demand being far greater than supply, it makes living in Paris very expensive. Coupled with the fact that young, cultural visionaries tend to follow cheap rent, it is easy to be concerned about Paris’ capacity to support cultural progress. This is a similar fear and reality being experienced in New York.
I guess what I’m wishing for is a modification of the ban, rather than a removal. However, Adam over at Market Urbanism would probably argue that market forces should determine how density is distributed. When you consider the following graph from a post of his on zoning, it is hard to argue.
[Courtesy of Market Urbanism.]
In spite of all my economic beliefs, I feel very strongly about the street presence in this city. Furthermore, in spite of all my beliefs in the need for continual progress and change, I have a hard time accepting that this city must change. What I do accept is that housing supply has to change, just not through skyscrapers even if I do appreciate the work of HdM.
My fear of skyscrapers for Paris has less to do with the inherent complexities of meeting the street, than it does with the interruption of street facades. To clarify, this is a purely formal fear. I am not suggesting that you must abide by a style or material palette to create the majesty of a Parisian street. I’ll even take an HdM project to prove my point.
[Image: Herzog & de Meuron's Rue des Suisses in Paris. Left: courtesy of The Incremental House.]
Even though this project brings a different architectural language to the street, it is still deferential to the street. Unfortunately this does not contribute to alleviating the housing crisis by introducing more units; although it did have social ambitions by devoting a portion of units as social housing in the courtyard.
As an architect, I will admit that rules are meant to be broken. The Centre Pompidou serves as a great example of successful rule-breaking in urban form. As a cultural and semi-public institution, it requires a different street presence and serves as the host of public space – it’s plaza is a basin of street life.
[Image: Sloping plaza at Centre Pompidou in Paris.]
Overall, though, I’m not sure breaking this rule will keep the Parisian street intact. From the few images of Le Projet Triangle, by Herzog & de Meuron, it is difficult to tell what impact it will have on the city and its streets.
[Image: Le Project Triangle by Herzog & de Meuron. Courtesy of France 3.]
Regardless, I find it unlikely that Paris Council will change course on lifting the height restriction. However, I am curious to see if anyone has any alternatives, or if you feel this is a good move, let us know.
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Comments
There is already skyscrapers in Paris… just write La Defense in google.
Officaly it is outside Paris, but you all know that Paris city limit are unrepresentative of the modern day Paris.
Build a skyscraper in Porte de Versaille is less visible than building 300 meters skyscrapers in La Defense.
So nobody care because La Defense is officially outside Paris, of course only stupid peoiple believe of it. How district with 10,000 inhabitants/km² could be outside the city.
La Defense is as Paris as the Louvre and even worse now La Defense is more Parisain than touristy district like Louvre or Ile de la Cite district.
I dream is to see new skyscraper in Montparnasse district and that some central district rebecome Parisian, now many have only tourists.
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Thanks for the link!
I haven’t familiarized myself with Paris’ changes (I should investigate and write a post on it), but I am sure higher / denser structures could be accommodated while still maintaining Parisian street experience. Perhaps setbacks on higher floors could be utilized to maintain the scale at the street facade. What if a developer maintained street facades and built a tower like Hearst?
Certainly, higher densities will enable even more active sidewalks.
(I love the big yellow Hummer parked on the street. It must be a nightmare finding a spot for that thing in Paris. I bet the neighbors love it….)