[Swede]

Originally Posted by Minato Ku

Paris to scrap ban on high-rise tower blocks
8 July 2008
Agence France Presse

Paris city council on Tuesday moved to scrap a 30-year-old ban on high-rise buildings, a decision that could revolutionise the capital's skyline but which is fiercely opposed by green politicians.

They claim to be green and oppose building tall? I'm tired of these fake-greens.

On Tuesday, Paris city council voted to launch a public consultation on plans to build towers of up to 200 metres at six emblematic sites just inside the city walls

I like that idea. specific sites that will get concentrations of taller buildings, like mini-La Defense.

The 37-metre ceiling was brought in 1977 to call a halt to a string of high-rise projects -- including the Montparnasse tower south of the River Seine -- that were quickly seen as failed experiments in urbanism.

Because it was the height that made them fail in urbanism? height has nothing to do with it.

Originally Posted by Jean Nouvel

"This is not about undermining our heritage. But we have to stop thinking that Paris is a museum-city. Paris is not finished... If vertical buildings can enrich the heart of the capital, why deprive ourselves?"

Hear, hear!

But others warn that a badly-designed tower can blow apart the social fabric of a neighbourhood.

"Tower blocks ruin the most precious asset of European cities: public spaces," said French architect Henri Gaudin. "They wipe out a whole territory."

Delanoe's plans are fiercely opposed by the French Green Party, who voted against on grounds of energy efficiency.

"Tower blocks are urbanism's equivalent of the four-wheel drive car: flashy machines that devour energy," Green Party councillor Rene Dutrey charged.

Who said anything about 60s style highrise commieblocks and Le Corbousier style urban planning? These guys are totally missing the point!