The luminaries of the architecture world, including Jean Nouvel and Christian de Portzamparc, as well as city planners from all over the world, have devoted their energy for nearly nine months to designing the new Paris and the new greater Paris area. The scope of their work gives a hint of what the “Grand Paris” project will become over the next few decades.

After unveiling the fruits of their labour to the Economic and Social Council last month, the ten architectural firms – six in France and four from other nations – presented their plans to French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The head of state began overseeing the project on June 4, 2008, hoping to quickly implement a “strong, original, and realistic” project to develop Paris.

Sustainable development, transportation, and facilitating transport between Paris and its suburbs are the three themes tying all projects together – whether they be poetic, utopic, or ecological.

To solicit public input, a public debate was held on March 17 at the Chaillot theatre. A new exhibit of scale models, on show  at the Cité de l’architecture from April 29 to November 22, 2009, will further unveil the projects to Parisians and visitors alike.

PLANS FOR A 'GRAND PARIS' Computer image of a project for a bigger, greener Paris, in La Courneuve, by French architect Roland Castro. President Nicolas Sarkozy has asked 10 teams of architects and urban planners to imagine a "Grand Paris", which would be one of the world's most environmentally-friendly capitals.AFP PHOTO/ATELIER CASTRO-DENISSOF Computer image of French architect Roland Castro’s Central Park project for La Courneuve, a drab multi-ethnic suburb less than 10 kilometres from the centre of Paris that is also home to one of the region's biggest low-income housing estates.AFP PHOTO/ATELIER CASTRO-DENISSOF Handout picture released by Christian de Portzamparc's studio shows a computer image of a project to better connect the suburbs to Paris proper. Portzamparc proposes a high-speed elevated train that would run along the Paris ring road, seen as the barrier between the city and the suburbs. AFP PHOTO/ATELIER CHRISTIAN DE PORTZAMPARC Computer image of a project for a bigger and greener Paris, in Le Bourget, a suburb outside Paris, as designed by Christian de Portzamparc, considered a leading light in urban planning. Cutting-edge architects from across the world unveiled their plans for a “Grand Paris” on March 13, 2009 in Paris.AFP PHOTO/ATELIER CHRISTIAN DE PORTZAMPARC Handout picture released by Castro-Denissof's studio shows a computer image of the Ile de Vitry project by French architect Roland Castro. AFP PHOTO/ATELIER CASTRO-DENISSOF Handout picture released by Christian de Portzamparc's studio shows a computer image of a high-speed elevated train that would run along the Paris ring road as part of a project for a bigger and greener Paris.AFP PHOTO/ATELIER CHRISTIAN DE PORTZAMPARC