'Grand Paris' proposals unveiled
The architects and urban planners who have spent the last nine months creating their vision for a better Paris present their ideas to French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday. It's their view of the city's evolution over future decades.
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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 on Thursday , the ten architectural firms – six in France and four from other nations – are to present their plans to French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday. 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 is planned for March 17 at the Chaillot theatre, and an exhibit of scale models will be shown to the public at the Cité de l’architecture from April 29 to November 22.
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