Nicholas Sarkozy, like most recent French presidents, is mindful of his legacy and accordingly launched in 2007 a call for architects’ submissions for the “Grand Paris” of the 21st century. The results of that consultation can be seen at the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patriomine: ten booths showcasing the visions of superstar architects such [...]
Archive for the ‘design and architecture’ Category
France to offer 30,000-euro zero interest loan for eco-renovation
Posted in Grenelle, climate change, design and architecture, policy on September 13, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Home owners in France take note. The French government is planning to offer a zero-interest loan of up to 30,000 euros for eco-renovation. If approved, this plan will take effect as part of the 2009 budget. Dubbed “éco-PTZ” (pret a taux zero), the loan is open to anyone, with no revenue conditions attached, and is [...]
France pushes for common standards in green building for Europe
Posted in design and architecture on June 16, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Part of a wider movement to promote coherence in green building standards, France is pushing to ensure that its own standard, the HQE, becomes the norm in Europe. Haute Qualité Environnementale is an approach which uses 14 criteria for reducing consumption of natural resources and discharge of pollutants, as well as enhancing the comfort and health [...]
Lyons unveils innovative pollution-absorbing plant wall
Posted in air quality, design and architecture, renewable energy, water on October 5, 2007 | 4 Comments »
France’s first ever pollution-absorbent plant wall was unveiled this week at the railway station of Lyons Perrache. The 400 square meter wall, built by Canevaflor, is designed to filter out air pollution generated by the station’s parking lot. Plant walls were popularised in France by Patrick Blanc, who developed the concept of the vertical garden, [...]
Greening the construction industry in France
Posted in Grenelle, design and architecture, renewable energy on October 1, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Right now, building a green house costs approximately 10-15 percent more than the average house. The Grenelle is expected to usher in a slew of new rules and norms for the sector which should guarantee employment for at least the next two decades as well as bring that premium down considerably. The construction sector in [...]
France is way behind Europe on green architecture
Posted in design and architecture, renewable energy, water on October 1, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
France is 15 years behind Europe when it comes to green architecture and sustainable building, according to Françoise-Hélène Jourda, one of the country’s leading exponents on the subject. In an interview with Le Monde, she said France was behind in terms of regulations and ratification of techniques and materials. “It is, for example, very difficult [...]
