(History of contemporary architecture and urbanism fifth essay,

Paris in the age of Haussmann)

The magnificent metamorphosis of the city was, at one level, a form of social and political
control. Haussmann broadened and straightened the streets in part to prevent the building of
barricades. The new boulevards linked the barracks in each arrondissement, enabling the
expeditious deployment of troops in case of insurrection. Haussmann, an outstanding
respecter of authority, saw the keeping of order as one of his main duties. For him there was
little difference between this kind of control and the improvement of the city’s sanitation; it
was simply another form of hygiene. Haussmann’s paramount aim, nevertheless, was to
progress the bourgeoisie’s business interests by creating a more proficient transport network:
a city that would allow the rapid circulation of goods, people and money as well as troops.
In 1853, Haussmann had outlined and began construction on a series of basic projects that
had been planned since the decision had been made to modernize the city. The projects
included creating a north-south axis in the city, developing the quarters around the Opéra, as
well as the annexation of the suburbs to make them outer arrondissements, the sewer system,
and the water supply. Haussmann molded the city into a geometric grid, with new streets
running east and west, north and south, dividing Medieval Paris into new sections. His plan
brought symmetry to the city, something it was lacking beforehand. No Parisian
neighborhood was left untouched by Haussmann’s hand. The new streets were also wider
than most of their predecessors, for reasons of public health and traffic engineering.
On either side, the brand-new built apartment blocks erected by property speculators began to
give the city an architectural uniformity. Throughout the 1850s and 1860s hundreds of
buildings were devastated. Hundreds of thousands of people were evicted. The depredation of
vieux Paris, and the various communities within it, was profoundly controversial, but
Haussmann pursued his renovations relentlessly. New housing of all categories was erected
under strict building regulations by private developers, who then demanded higher rents.
property speculation became all the indignation. Large sections of the working class were
forced into cheaper outlying areas, dividing Paris into a preponderantly middle- and upper-
class west and a working-class east.
My comments are: I think that even though his desire to create a well-organized and
symmetrical city, his lack of skills as an urban planner got the best of him and he was
constrained to work around existing streets in order to adhere to his desire for symmetry in
the city. The existing architecture in Paris proved to be his paramount enemy when laying out
the new roads. The respect for the ancient monuments outweighed the need to unify the city
unconditionally and the river Seine served as a natural barrier separating the two sides of
Paris and the roads that once had the ambition to link the riverbanks. Most prominent are the
train stations, which linked Paris to the rest of France. They were an integral part in the
growth of the Parisian population, and also allowed not only the rich, but everyone, to take
day trips and explore the countryside encompassing the city. The stations were simply
designed, with a high central vault, embellished with glass and iron tracery, similar to that of
the wheel that propels the train along. The train stations were tall and classical in style,
decorated with arcades and balustrades, all while emphasizing the speed and power of the
steam engine. To many, the trains represented the new modern time, recognized around the
world as one of the greatest products of Industrialization.