CityLab Interviewed Paris Deputy Mayor Jean-Louis Missika at reSITE
Sharing is not a fad, it is a movement. And a very useful one.
Jean‑Louis Missika, deputy mayor of Paris, talks about his passion project—a design competition for underutilized spaces—and why he believes shared spaces are the future of the city.
Jean‑Louis Missika, deputy mayor of Paris, believes that the City on the Seine must undergo a transformation. I talked to Missika, who is in charge of Paris’s urban planning and architecture, about his passion project, Réinventer Paris (Reinvent Paris). The competition asks urban designers to propose innovative uses for underutilized city spaces, most of which are at least partially underground. Below are the edited highlights of our interview during reSITE 2017 in Prague this summer.
Sharing. The buzzword of our times. Maybe it’s just a fad? – No, it is not a fad, it is a movement. And a very useful one.
What makes your call for projects, Réinventer Paris, different?
Everything! The role of the city is changing. Thus far, Paris has been pursuing its architectural interests through public buildings, such as libraries, museums, and schools. As for other buildings and property suitable for revitalization, it was mostly about maximizing profit. In this competition, it is the most inventive and truly innovative project that wins.
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