Paris – In a bid to expand the city’s green spaces, the mayor of Paris is planning a transformation of the Champs-Élysées into a public garden space.
For the project, which is set to be completed by 2030, the 1.9km (1.2 mile) stretch of central Paris will be turned into an ‘extraordinary garden’ – as described by Anne Hidalgo, mayor of Paris. New developments will include reducing vehicle space by half, turning roads into pedestrian and green areas and creating tunnels of trees to improve air quality. Meanwhile, the Champs-Élysées committee plans to redesign both Place de la Concorde and the Eiffel Tower – with more fountains, ponds and parks set to surround the landmark.
Philippe Chiambaretta, an architect working on the project, considers the Champs-Élysées as a place that reflects many of the issues now facing global cities: ‘Pollution, the place of the car, tourism and consumerism.’ In response, he hopes the redevelopment will lead to an area which is ‘ecological, desirable and inclusive’.
Across the globe, city dwellers are reflecting on what it means to feel well in their environment – ushering in demands for developments in Urban Wellness.