Adaptation Climatique d'un îlot parisien

Urban Heat adaptation of a Haussmannien block in Paris 17e
Jakob+MacFarlane - Architecture - Adaptation Climatique d'un îlot parisien. Urban Heat adaptation of a Haussmannien block in Paris 17e Jakob+MacFarlane - Architecture - Adaptation Climatique d'un îlot parisien. Urban Heat adaptation of a Haussmannien block in Paris 17e
Jakob+MacFarlane - Architecture - Adaptation Climatique d'un îlot parisien. Urban Heat adaptation of a Haussmannien block in Paris 17e Jakob+MacFarlane - Architecture - Adaptation Climatique d'un îlot parisien. Urban Heat adaptation of a Haussmannien block in Paris 17e
Jakob+MacFarlane - Architecture - Adaptation Climatique d'un îlot parisien. Urban Heat adaptation of a Haussmannien block in Paris 17e Jakob+MacFarlane - Architecture - Adaptation Climatique d'un îlot parisien. Urban Heat adaptation of a Haussmannien block in Paris 17e
Jakob+MacFarlane - Architecture - Adaptation Climatique d'un îlot parisien. Urban Heat adaptation of a Haussmannien block in Paris 17e Jakob+MacFarlane - Architecture - Adaptation Climatique d'un îlot parisien. Urban Heat adaptation of a Haussmannien block in Paris 17e

Preparing for Future Heat Waves.

Adapting a Haussmannian Block in Paris,

The real challenge lies not in what remains to be built, but in what already exists. The most urgent priority is to adapt the millions of existing Parisian apartments: homes that are poorly oriented, poorly ventilated, and unprotected. Haussmann’s Paris, the Paris of the suburbs, and modern Paris were not designed with climate change in mind. The very structure of the capital turns it into an open-air heat trap:•

Pervasive paving: Asphalt saturates the space, storing solar energy during the day and releasing it at night.• A rigid urban layout: Strict street alignment, the lack of setbacks in facades, and the uniform height of buildings limit natural shade.• Overheated zinc roofs• Concrete-paved courtyards: The multitude of private, fully paved inner courtyards eliminates any internal ventilation. Our urban planning regulations, inherited from another century, now act as barriers. They prevent natural shade from functioning, block air circulation, and prevent the creation of cool, shaded pockets within the neighborhood.

Project to transform an urban heat island in Paris’s 17th arrondissement: Remove the asphalt from the sidewalks on the most exposed sides; restore a “sunken” urban green space at the base of buildings and in the courtyard, capable of retaining morning dew to cool the ambient air.

Our urban planning regulations, inherited from another century, now act as barriers. They prevent natural shade from forming, block air circulation, and prevent the creation of cool, shaded areas in low-lying spots.

Climate-responsive facades: Installation of lightweight passive structures along exposed facades. Independent of the building structure, they serve as supports for fast-growing climbing vegetation and allow for the attachment of “masks”—sunshades to protect walls, windows, and roofs from direct sunlight. Opening onto the street and adopting the “Parisian riad” strategy with vegetation planted directly in the ground and water features. Opening these courtyards onto the street creates essential airflow at night.

These are urgent, simple measures that can be implemented quickly. They serve as our immediate shield while we engage in a deeper reflection on what 21st-century cities like Paris should become.