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DON’T NEED SKYSCRAPERS TO THRIVE!
Paris is renowned for its architectural richness that is surrounded request of Emperor Napoleon III. Haussmann eliminated many
by stunning streets, deep-rooted neighborhoods which tell the of the city’s maze-like streets and removed more than 12,000
story of an era and the ’La Seine’ being the heart of the city. One medieval structures during this dark time when Paris was filthy,
of the reasons why Paris is in such high demand is the different overcrowded and infested with disease. He redesigned the city
styles of buildings that shape the French capital. From Baroque with a network of wide, stately boulevards, built 40,000 new
opulence of the ‘Château de Versailles’ to the influence of Louis buildings and cleared space for Les Halles marketplace and
XIV extended of the major urban planning projects such as the the Palais Garnier. They were designed to fit certain standards.
‘Place de Victoires’ through the modernist touches of the 20th Buildings required to be between 12 and 20 meters high, marked
century, each style of buildings has witnessed these architectural by dormer windows and mansard roofs, which had to be angled
changes from the 1400s to the 21st century. Paris has developed at 45 degrees to allow the maximum amount of sunlight on the
but never with ostentatious skyscrapers, Paris has a great place streets below. You can see the greatest concentration is in the 8th,
in today’s world with its superior vision and artistry and proves 9th, 10th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, and 20th arrondissements
that we skyscrapers to thrive. in Paris.
From the past to present, Gothic architecture is the most popular Today’s modernity is represented by the cities like New York,
style of French architecture. In this era, the decoration is very Dubai and Shangai which have immense skyscrapers as a
ornate and detailed. It is characterized by powerful structures symbol of progress and growth. Even though its flashy buildings
with pointed arches, rib vaults, stained-glass windows and flying dazzle our eyes, these cities are far from the real architecture
buttresses. The most popular architecture of this period is the art based. Paris, which is different from countries that associate
iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The style is its development with luxury, of course has some architecture in
impressive and spectacular. Today, we can still find examples of this direction. The centre Pompidou, is a region that represents
this period , and it shows that Gothic architecture is a period today’s modernity with its modern and industrial design.
extremely powerful among other architectural periods. After However, while Paris adapts to modernism, the city never loses
French Gothic, Parisians are moving into a new era: Renaissance. its historical values. That region limits luxury in the city and
It replaced French Gothic architecture between the 15th and also prevents irregular urbanization that may occur in the future.
17th centuries. ‘The Hotel de Ville’ in the city hall of Paris is Unlike cities that rely on vertical expansion, Paris, blends history
a splendid example of this period. The characteristics include and future and creates a magnificent architecture.
symmetry and proportion, repetitive facades, sloping roofs and As we can see, big buildings are actually big nothing. Paris
stone or brick buildings. These buildings still preserve and give demonstrates that it invests in the richness of its cultural heritage
Paris a different value. It proves day by day that the source of its and architectural artistry and at the end of this it proves that the
development, unlike other countries, is not glass skyscrapers of city can thrive without skyscrapers. The timeless beauty of its
hundreds of floors. buildings, from Gothic cathedrals to Haussmann boulevards,
The Haussmann style of architecture, which is also known as shows Paris does not lose its identity and preserves its cultural
Haussmannian, is the architecture that has defined modern heritage. Contrary to what is thought, Paris is not only evolving
day Paris, and is probably what you think of when you picture in today’s modernism, but also retaining its unique character. In
Parisian streets and their charming apartment buildings. In the that way, Paris proves that progress is not about reaching for the
19th century, Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann, a Parisian sky, maybe sometimes we have to preserve what’s already here
official with no architectural background, restored the city at the on the ground.
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