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.

Related Stories

Venice Architecture Biennale: How Will We Live Together with Hashim Sarkis in Conversation with Greg Lindsay

Part two of our Design and the City episode covering the long-awaited 17th Venice Architecture Biennale to explore the question “How will we live together?” and features curator Hashim Sarkis in conversation with Greg Lindsay along with British and Austrian pavilion curators as they explore accessibility on many levels.

Venice Architecture Biennale: How Will We Live Together with Peter Mörtenböck + Helge Mooshammer

Part two of our Design and the City episode covering the long-awaited 17th Venice Architecture Biennale featuring the Austrian Pavilion curators, Peter Mörtenböck + Helge Mooshammer on platform urbanism and what that means for the future of our cities.

Venice Architecture Biennale: How Will We Live Together with Manijeh Verghese + Madeleine Kessler

Part two of our Design and the City episode covering the long-awaited 17th Venice Architecture Biennale features British pavilion curators, Manijeh Verghese and Madeleine Kessler as they explore accessibility and our increasingly privatised public spaces, in the United Kingdom and beyond. Photo by Cristiano Corte © British Council

Venice Architecture Biennale: How Will We Live Together? [Part 2]

Part two of our Design and the City episode covering the long-awaited 17th Venice Architecture Biennale to explore the question “How will we live together?” and features curator Hashim Sarkis in conversation with Greg Lindsay along with British and Austrian pavilion curators as they explore accessibility on many levels.

Related Talks

Creating Common Ground with Michael Kimmelman | reSITE City Talks

Michael Kimmelman, architecture critic for the New York Times, speaks to reSITE about how architects are responsible for creating healthy cities to address climate change, refugees, and urbanisation. In conversation with urban planners and designers, architects can create resilient neighborhoods and cities.

On the Balance Between Public + Private Space | reSITE City Talks

Mimi Hoang, founder of nArchitects, discusses public space versus domestic space and affordable housing. She believes that the urban environment should encourage people to spend time in it and make the city space their own.

Solving Munich's Urban Planning Challenges like a Rubic's Cube

Martin Klamt, the speaker of the Department of Urban Planning for the City of Munich, discusses the obstacles and solutions the city has faced in welcoming new arrivals and helping them successfully settle in the city. The diverse population of Munich requires urban development for them, and designed for population increase and densification, with a focus on housing.

Revitalizing Public Space in New York City with Carl Weisbrod

Carl Weisbrod, Commissioner of New York City Planning, discusses the economic and cultural history of New York City, culminating in today's booming economy that is accompanied by a housing crisis. City growth leads to rapid social change, and transformation towards more affordable housing will allow the city to continue to thrive with healthier citizens.

Stories Library