Each arrondissement in Paris has its own unique history and charm, adding to the city’s rich heritage. Paris evolved from a walled city, giving it a distinct layout. While the original walls are gone, fragments remain, and the modern Périphérique highway now forms its boundary. Over the past 900 years, the city has expanded outward from the Île de la Cité, with successive walls being built and torn down. As a result, many of the oldest buildings are found near the center.
Prices for real estate in the outer neighborhoods might range from 11,000 to 13,000 euros per square meter, while prices in the historic central areas can start at 15,000 euros per square meter and range up to 20,000 to 30,000 euros per square meter, or even more for properties facing the river, a park, or with a monument view. For reference, one bedroom apartments are generally 40 to 60 square meters, two bedroom properties range from 70 to 100 square meters, and larger properties can range up to several hundred square meters.
The first arrondissement, located in the heart of Paris, is home to some of the city’s most iconic historic landmarks, including the Tuileries Garden, the Louvre Museum, and the Palais Royal with its gardens. Strolling through this elegant district, particularly along rue Saint-Honoré with its upscale designer boutiques and fashionable restaurants and cafés, offers a quintessentially luxurious Parisian experience. Rich in grandeur and history, the 1st arrondissement is also one of the city’s most expensive areas.
Securing a small apartment in this historic neighborhood comes at a high cost, reaching 22,000 euros per m2 or higher. In the most sought-after areas—from the Tuileries Gardens to Palais Royal and around the Banque de France—apartments are especially rare and command premium prices for the finest properties.
The second arrondissement has significantly transformed over the years. Starting out in the 12th century as the home to Parisian merchants on the outskirts of the original historic city center, it has evolved into one of the most prestigious addresses, boasting a diverse range of sights, shops, and restaurants. The northern edge of the 2nd arrondissement contains several wholesale shops, merchants, and La Bourse, Paris’ stock exchange. In the center, you’ll find great vintage shopping, hidden wine bars, and charming cobblestone streets.
While it’s no longer a neighborhood for finding bargains, the 2nd arrondissement remains a solid real estate investment. The grittier neighborhoods around Saint Denis fetch the lowest prices, but prices climb fast closer to rue Réaumur and the sought-after streets around rue Montorgueil, reaching to 17,000 euros per m2 and higher. The priciest part of the second arrondissement is near the Garnier Opera and rue de la Paix.
The northern part of the historic Marais, the 3rd arrondissement, is an eclectic neighborhood with plenty to see and do. The wholesale shopping around Place de la République transitions into a quaint, small-neighborhood feel as you head south. “Temple” is currently a trendy corner of Paris, bustling with bars, good-value restaurants, and art galleries at every turn. The streets are alive with both locals and internationals out to enjoy themselves.
The heart of the Marais lies between rue de Turenne and rue des Archives. Here, you will find wonderful museums and galleries housed in old hôtel particuliers, several of Paris’ renowned hidden parks and gardens, restaurants, cafés, and boutique shopping. Heading east to the border of the 3rd and 11th arrondissements reveals more up-and-coming restaurants and hipster hangouts.
Not long ago, savvy buyers could find inexpensive apartments to renovate in the northern 3rd arrondissement, but those days are over. Expect heftier prices around République, with increasing costs as you move into the historic Marais. Prices are expected to continue rising in the northern part of the 3rd arrondissement, especially with the renovation of the Marché du Temple and Place de la République, as well as the areas around the Marais.
The 4th arrondissement, the heart of the Marais, has seen many incarnations through the centuries, transitioning from an aristocratic hotspot to a Jewish ghetto and back again, now boasting a hip and trendy status. The Marais’ evolving social fabric and narrow, crowded streets spared it from Baron Haussmann’s renovations, making it one of the few areas in Paris where architecture from the Renaissance through the 18th-century still thrives. The Île Saint Louis, which defines the arrondissement’s southern edge, is the oldest part of Paris, where the city first began.
The Marais is the third most expensive area in Paris, after the 6th and 7th arrondissements. However, there is still good value to be found in the lively, village-like parts of the Marais compared to Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Look to the neighborhoods in the Village Saint Paul and north of the Place des Vosges for the rare, quieter streets.
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The historic Latin Quarter, home to scholars for centuries, boasts the world-renowned Sorbonne University. Known for its bustling nightlife and student-filled streets, it has historically been the least expensive of the central left bank arrondissements. However, rising real estate prices in Paris have made the 5th arrondissement particularly desirable to young buyers in recent years, leading to an unprecedented shortage of apartments.
Some of the oldest streets in Paris are located here, along with the Pantheon, the final resting place of many of France’s most celebrated dignitaries, and the Luxembourg Gardens, one of the most beautiful parks in Paris. Although historically the least coveted of the central left bank arrondissements, buyers priced out of the 6th have turned to the 5th to find their dream home, only to discover that an exceptional place with a view of the Luxembourg Gardens can fetch up to €30,000 per square meter.
In general, expect high prices around the Luxembourg Gardens and the Pantheon, with slightly lower prices around the Val de Grâce. Even around Gare d’Austerlitz and Les Gobelins, prices can be substantial.
Boulevard Saint-Germain, an iconic Parisian thoroughfare lined with cafés, shops, and romantic spots, bisects the northern 6th arrondissement. The cozy streets towards the Seine are home to prestigious art galleries, antique shops, and the French School of Fine Arts, contributing to the Left Bank’s artistic reputation. The area near the Luxembourg Gardens feels more grand and spacious. Property prices in the 6th are the highest in Paris, with riverfront properties in the 6th and 7th priced stratospherically high. For those who can afford it, this area is ideal for an elegant pied-à-terre in Paris.
The 6th arrondissement remains the most expensive real estate in Paris and is a favorite among foreign buyers and locals alike. Prices fluctuate drastically depending on the quality of the property and the building, with record-breaking prices for exceptional properties. Expect to pay a premium for prime properties in the best areas, such as the quais, Place Saint-Germain des Prés, Place Saint-Sulpice, and the Luxembourg Gardens.
Quintessential Paris, the 7th arrondissement is divided into distinct neighborhoods, each with its unique charm. The areas near Champs de Mars and bordering the 6th are highly prized, while the area near the 15th feels more residential and quiet. On a sunny day, the 7th is perfect for strolling through the gardens of the Rodin Museum or enjoying a picnic on the Champ de Mars in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. The charming rue Cler is lined with produce, meat, cheeses, breads, spices, and more, flanked by plenty of sidewalk cafés. The 7th is also home to many government offices, ministries, and the Assemblée Nationale, the seat of the French parliament.
Sought after for its central location, proximity to parks, and spacious feel, real estate in the 7th is the second most expensive in Paris, right behind the 6th. The Carré des Antiquaires, north of Boulevard Saint-Germain towards the Seine, is one of the most coveted residential addresses in the city. Stratospheric prices are becoming the norm in the 7th due to sustained interest from both foreign investors and residential buyers, and a general shortage of apartments on the market. Prices in the 7th are among the most expensive in Paris, second only to the 6th. The area around the Champs de Mars, Invalides, and rue Cler are particularly pricey, especially if they offer a view. The Carré des Antiquaires area bordering the 6th features some of the steepest prices.
The 8th arrondissement is the epitome of luxury in Paris, featuring high-end shopping, 5-star hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, and glamorous clubs. Property prices here reflect its opulence. The « golden triangle, » bordered by the Étoile, Concorde, and Pont l’Alma stations, is where the majority of the luxury and glitter are concentrated. Outside of this area, you’ll find more urban neighborhoods with everyday shops and markets. Parc Monceau is particularly desirable for its calm, residential atmosphere and consistently beautiful architecture.
Within the golden triangle of Étoile-Concorde-Alma, luxury real estate has reached new heights. Apartments on avenue Montaigne can sell for €30,000/m² and up, with neighboring streets following closely in price. This area attracts both Parisian and international buyers. In the historically wealthy district around avenues Hoche and Friedland, apartments larger than 200m² are abundant, offering relatively reasonable prices compared to the golden triangle.
The 9th arrondissement is a beloved area among Parisians, and it’s easy to see why. It offers a vibrant mix of fresh markets, street shopping, nightlife, theaters, and new affordable restaurants, making it a highly desirable place to live. Just south of Pigalle (which locals affectionately call SoPi, in honor of SoHo) down to Saint Georges and around rue des Martyrs, you’ll find one of the most charming, young, hip, and livable areas in Paris. Property prices have risen significantly here due to high demand.
In the trendy Martyrs-Saint Georges neighborhood, it’s challenging to find anything larger than 50 to 80m², and prices are the highest in the 9th arrondissement. For larger family apartments, consider the neighborhoods near the Grands Boulevards around La Fayette-Châteaudun or the streets around rue Clichy and rue Amsterdam, where spacious apartments are more reasonably priced.
The 10th arrondissement is home to two of Paris’s major train stations, Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est, attracting Brits seeking conveniently located pied-à-terres. The Canal Saint-Martin has become the focal point for the changing face of this once working-class neighborhood, now bustling with shops, restaurants, bars, and creative housing options. Repurposed factories turned into hip lofts mix with more traditional apartments. The 10th is considered one of the most sought-after areas in Paris for real estate investment, as property prices are expected to rise dramatically with ongoing gentrification.
As the area gentrifies, finding bargain apartments in the 10th has become increasingly difficult. Many owners are reluctant to sell, fearing they won’t be able to upgrade to a bigger apartment. Prices are climbing near Canal Saint-Martin and Place de la République, giving the area a hip, buzzy feel. However, prices remain reasonable around La Villette and Saint-Denis.
Traditionally a working-class neighborhood, the 11th retains much of its grungy, working-class feel while attracting more of Paris’s artsy, eclectic residents and businesses, especially around rue Oberkampf. The Avenue Parmentier is becoming a culinary hotspot, with some of Paris’s most celebrated chefs opening new establishments, drawing even west Parisians who might not have visited before. At Place de la Bastille, where the 4th, 11th, and 12th arrondissements meet, you’ll find the modern Opera House of Paris, surrounded by lively bars and inexpensive restaurants. Heading north from Bastille along rue Richard Lenoir is one of Paris’s best outdoor food markets, open every Thursday and Sunday.
The 11th around Place de la République remains one of Paris’s trendiest spots, filled with restaurants, bars, markets, small shops, and beautiful apartments. The Oberkampf neighborhood is popular with first-time buyers. Prices vary widely in the 11th arrondissement, where you can find apartments to renovate in older buildings for less, or pay substantially more for a place in a coveted Haussmannian building.
The 12th arrondissement is generally considered an affordable option, and many native Parisians call it home. In recent years, coveted neighborhoods like those around the renovated Viaduc des Arts on Avenue Daumesnil have become very attractive to buyers and renters alike, causing prices to rise steeply. The 12th has much to offer the young, professional residents, including Marché d’Aligre, a daily food market that spills over into the streets (closed Mondays), the charming Square Trousseau just off rue Faubourg Saint Antoine, and the diverse and lovely Bercy Park near Metro Saint-Emilion farther east, with its converted stone warehouses housing shops, restaurants, and a large cinema.
Parisians from throughout the city travel to the outskirts of the 12th to visit the Bois de Vincennes, a massive public park surrounding a former royal fortress. Good value is still to be found in the Viaduc des Arts area with its rooftop gardens, though prices climb substantially along the quais leading up to Bastille. Prices are lower but rising near the Boulevard Périphérique on the outskirts or adjacent to the 20th arrondissement.
Hidden in the urban 13th arrondissement is the historic, preserved hilltop village of La Butte aux Cailles. Its narrow cobblestone streets feature charming apartment buildings, single-family homes, and historic, family-owned restaurants, earning it the nickname « Montmartre of the Left Bank. »
Bustling and eclectic, the 13th is home to Paris’s largest Chinese population and is considered the city’s Chinatown. The predominant architecture is notably modern, with clusters of high-rise apartment buildings offering panoramic views of the city, though often at the cost of charm. From Place d’Italie to the Mitterrand Library, the 13th has seen rising prices, particularly for smaller, more affordable apartments sought by young buyers who find central Paris unaffordable.
Prices are highest in the north of the 13th, abutting the 5th arrondissement, toward Boulevard Saint Marcel. The area continues to attract young buyers and investors seeing its potential, driving up prices further.
Known mostly for the imposing Montparnasse Tower, the highest commercial building within the Paris city limits, the 14th arrondissement is also home to many charming neighborhoods favored by French residents. The beautiful Parc Montsouris, a green oasis at the southern end of the arrondissement, is surrounded by small cobblestone streets lined with single-family homes, a rarity in Paris. Toward the city center, the area around rue Daguerre has become trendy, and the neighborhood around Port-Royal, where the 14th borders the 6th near the Luxembourg Gardens, offers proximity to Saint-Germain-des-Prés without the higher prices. The 14th continues to attract buyers, particularly young families, looking for urban comforts with a calmer residential life.
Despite rising prices, the Montparnasse neighborhoods at the edge of the 6th and the lovely Parc Montsouris still attract young couples and families. Good deals can still be found around the Boulevard Périphérique or on busier streets near Metro Plaisance. In the 14th arrondissement’s “golden triangle” of Mairie-Denfert-Rochereau-Montparnasse, prices are highest.
The 15th arrondissement ranges from pricey bourgeois neighborhoods to some of the most affordable areas in west Paris. The northern areas around La Motte-Picquet and Avenue de Suffren, along the border of the 7th near Les Invalides, boast the highest prices in the arrondissement and some of the loveliest buildings. High-rise buildings along the river offer spectacular views, but their contemporary design has not aged well, making them some of the best value opportunities for river-view property. As you move closer to the southern edge of the 15th near Porte de Versailles, the properties become less prestigious, with dramatically lower prices. The area around rue de Commerce has a charming village-like feel, bustling with shops and cafés. Apartments in this area tend to sell quickly, often by word-of-mouth, to families seeking proximity to some of the most prestigious French and bilingual schools in Paris.
The 15th seems to please everyone – families, investors, and a growing number of foreign buyers. In the northern areas around La Motte-Picquet, Place de Breteuil, and towards Avenue de Suffren, prices are at their highest for the arrondissement; head southeast for more reasonable prices. For now, it is still possible to find an affordable apartment in good condition around Porte de Versailles. The new Beaugrenelle redevelopment along the river is giving a boost to that neighborhood.
The bourgeois 16th arrondissement remains a strong favorite for families seeking excellent schools, tree-lined boulevards, and well-maintained, dressed-stone buildings. This expansive arrondissement, spanning the entire west side of Paris, is primarily residential but also boasts several gorgeous parks. The immense Bois de Boulogne offers everything from horse racing and boating on lakes to a children’s amusement park, extensive rose gardens, an outdoor theatre, and numerous lovely restaurants. The areas closest to the Arc de Triomphe, Trocadero, and Place Victor Hugo are the most expensive for real estate, while the southern area along Avenue Mozart to Village d’Auteuil is home to gated communities of single-family mansions. Historically, the residence of the French and international bourgeoisie, the many hôtels particuliers here remain prestigious private homes or house Paris’ museums, embassies, and cultural centers.
The 16th arrondissement is still favored by families for its good schools, lush parks, high quality of life, and well-maintained classic-style buildings. Prices are highest in the northern areas around Victor Hugo, Etoile, and Trocadero. Prices dip farther south near Avenue Mozart and Mairie, and in the area near Auteuil, which is popular among French residents for its village-like feel. The lowest prices are found in the southernmost part of the 16th.
The family-friendly 17th arrondissement features many lovely, prestigious apartment buildings that are more affordable than similar properties in the neighboring 16th and 8th arrondissements. The neighborhood bordering the beautiful Parc Monceau, with its wide streets and prestigious dressed-stone buildings, offers some of the most sought-after real estate for high-income buyers. The area near the Arc de Triomphe is also popular for its large, prestigious apartments and is known as a prime address for international corporations and law firms. Rue des Dames is one of the charming gems of the 17th, home to many quaint, neighborhood restaurants. The Batignolles area around Metro Rome is also trending upward, attracting a new crop of young residents looking for a foothold in Paris real estate; it remains virtually unknown to non-French buyers. The areas to the north, near the 18th and the congested Place de Clichy, tend to be the least desirable.
Always a family-oriented area, higher-income buyers focus on the pricey, village-like neighborhoods around Place Saint Ferdinand, Parc Monceau, or Place des Ternes. First-time buyers in the 17th are attracted to the areas near Batignolles and Epinettes. At the other end of the spectrum is the area to the north, around La Fourche, where property can be had for bargain-basement prices.
The famous 18th arrondissement of Paris is best known for the Sacré Coeur, the iconic white-domed church at the highest point in Paris, in Montmartre. At the bottom of the hill, the Moulin Rouge cabaret defines a different spirit and history for this eclectic arrondissement. The streets of Montmartre bustle with sketch artists and tourists, keeping it lively but somewhat redundant unless you venture off the beaten path. On the back side of the hill from Sacré Coeur, you’ll find some of the most charming, tree-lined streets in Paris, and the city’s best flea markets toward the northern edge. Rue Caulaincourt and Avenue Junot are filled with cafés, wonderful bakeries, and unique shops selling anything from porcelain doll parts to antique wind-up toys. The rare hôtels particuliers sell quickly and often by word-of-mouth when they come on the market.
There is quite a range in price among the different neighborhoods of the 18th. Expect to pay Marais-like prices for a large apartment with a great view and a terrace or garden in select areas of Montmartre, but prices fall fast toward the Goutte d’Or neighborhood, where they are among the lowest in Paris. The neighborhood near the Metro Guy Moquet, toward the 17th arrondissement, is coming to life with bakeries, shops, and a young cosmopolitan feel – get in while you can at that price. Around Abbesses and rue Lepic, the price is quite high and in demand.
One of the largest arrondissements in Paris, the 19th has historically been the gateway for Paris’s immigrant communities, which also explains its diversity. The Buttes Chaumont, the sister park to Montsouris in the 14th, boasts a man-made lake with a cliff at its center and rolling fields of grass, tree groves, and unmanicured green that is a rarity in Paris. Look to the neighborhoods around the park for some of the best addresses in the 19th, with prestigious apartments on the west side and streets of single-family villas in the small streets to the east.
The Parc de la Villette houses the Cité de la Science et de l’Industrie, a discovery center, children’s museum, and planetarium, as well as markets, music festivals, and outdoor movies in the summer on a great lawn. Grungier neighborhoods are being transformed, although many buyers still shy away from this arrondissement because it feels far from the center and maintains a reputation as sketchy and uncomfortable, particularly for women. For property, auction-style bidding has become the norm, where buyers willing to wait for the changes to continue are looking to snatch up the last great deals in Paris.
The 19th is the least-expensive arrondissement, where buyers are looking to snatch up the last good deals in Paris. It is still possible to find bargains in the less attractive neighborhoods to the north and around the Boulevard Périphérique. Apartments near Parc de la Villette or Crimée are mid-priced, while those around the impressive Parc des Buttes Chaumont are among the priciest in this arrondissement.
The 20th arrondissement, considered the most socially diverse in Paris, has undergone significant changes in recent years as more young bobos (bourgeois bohemians) are attracted to its cafés and cosmopolitan village-like atmosphere – all at more affordable prices. In Gambetta, the arrondissement’s chicest area, prices are still considerably lower than those in central Paris neighborhoods. Converted factories and ateliers are popular as homes and offices for young architects, artists, and craftsmen. The historic Père Lachaise cemetery stands as the crown jewel of the 20th, serving as the final resting place for French masters like Chopin, Balzac, Haussmann, and Molière, as well as famous lovers of past kings, and, notably for young Americans, the Doors’ Jim Morrison.
The 20th arrondissement, renowned for its café culture and vibrant community feel, offers varying prices across its neighborhoods. While Gambetta boasts higher prices, better deals can often be found in the Belleville and Ménilmontant neighborhoods, where average prices are more accessible.
The Romans defeated the Parisii tribe and established a city they named Lutetia. Today, that city is Paris. Traces of Roman architecture remain visible in Paris: if you look at a map, Rue Saint-Jacques cuts right through the middle of the city and was the main Roman road in and out. Remnants of a coliseum, baths, and temples survive and can be visited today. But when the Roman Empire crumbled, its architectural genius disappeared as well, and the Dark Ages were actually a step backwards architecturally.
This style of architecture is also found in these Arrondissements:
When the Sun King finally died, the heavy Baroque style was as exhausted as the overtaxed peasants. Louis’ great-grandson, Louis XV took the throne in 1715, just as Paris was beginning a new intellectual period known as the Enlightenment. Some of the great hôtels (mansions) of this period include the Hôtel de Matignon, where the Premier of France now lives, and the Hôtel d’Evreux, residence of the President.
In 1748, at the height of the style, Jacques-Ange Gabriel designed Place Louis XV, now known as Place de la Concorde. Rococo brought improvements in practical aspects of architecture: chimneys became more efficient, sanitation was improved, and rooms were arranged with more consideration for privacy. Residential life was creeping closer to what we would recognize today.
(1715 -1774) This style of architecture is also found in these Arrondissements:
During the early Middle Ages, the people of Paris poached entire sections of the sturdier Roman walls to use for their own buildings. You can still find roman stones in the cellars of the medieval half-timbered buildings found mostly in the 4th arrondissement but also in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th.
Interiors have low pier and beam ceilings, walls are half-timber or exposed stone, and the layout tends to have small and irregular sized rooms. These Pain de Bois buildings are structured around a staircase with a wooden or stone load-bearing axis at the center and a cellar of vaulted caves, both of which make installing an elevator in these buildings almost impossible.
Religious buildings also survive, beginning with the Romanesque style (round arched windows) and then evolving into Gothic style (pointed arches, cross vaults and flying buttresses).
(1100 – 1526) This style of architecture is also found in these Arrondissements:
When François I took over the French throne, he surrounded himself with the best creative minds of the time, inviting Leonardo da Vinci to Paris and hiring Italian architects to renovate the Louvre; the French capital surged with life and new buildings.
When François died in 1547, the city was torn apart by Catholic and Protestant factions. Henri IV, finally brought peace to Paris and was determined to restore its brilliance. He completed the Pont Neuf, extended the Louvre and reorganized the entranceways of the city. His most beautiful public legacy is the Place Royale. This was also the era of the magnificent private urban chateaux known as “hôtels particuliers,” which developed in the Latin Quarter, the Faubourg Saint-Germain, and the Quartier du Palais-Royal (Rue Saint-Honoré) for the noble class.
(1515 – 1643) This style of architecture is also found in these Arrondissements:
The Revolution devastated Paris and the city’s architecture suffered alongside its people. Royal chambers were torn apart by mobs, churches were looted and demolished, and ordinary apartments burned. Barely a decade after Louis XVI was decapitated, Napoleon was firmly in power. The Napoleonic style is a mishmash of neo-classic impulses. Decoration was stimulated by excavations in Pompeii and archeological discoveries in Greece. Classical references pleased Napoleon, since they suited his ambitions for an expanding Empire. Napoleon wisely set up massive building projects to keep Parisians employed, and his largest urban projects shaped today’s city. Napoleon also ordained that streets should be numbered odd on one side, even on the other, a remarkably practical concept that hadn’t occurred to anyone before.
(1803 – 1840) This style of architecture is also found in these Arrondissements:
By 1853, the city had over 1 million people. Only one house in five had running water; of these, most only had plumbing on the ground floor. Napoleon III tapped Baron Haussmann to renovate Paris. The goal was to ease traffic by creating large boulevards and to promote hygiene by integrating a clean water and sewage system, as well as to house the burgeoning upper class. Featuring an intricate cut stone façade, the common layout in a Haussmannian style building is large apartments (200 to 300 m²) with multiple salons de reception, marble fireplaces, chevron parquet floors, high ceilings with elaborate crown moldings, and a grand stairwell with an elevator to the side rather than in the center. Found around the grand boulevards in the center of Paris and in the 8th, 10th, 14th, 15th,16th, 17th, 18th, 20th arrondissements.
(1840- early-20th-century) This style of architecture is also found in these Arrondissements:
Art Nouveau was a brief fin-de-siecle architectural trend lasting approximately from 1893 to the beginning of World War I. Best known for the style is Hector Guimard. His curving “cigarette smoke” line had already made waves on buildings in the elegant 16th arrondissement, but his Art Nouveau was motivated by a social conscience, much like the Arts and Crafts Movement in Britain. Hired in 1896 to design the metro entrances, he leapt at the chance to design something beautiful for the masses. But when Guimard unveiled his brilliant Métro work in 1900 everyone hated it. The shiny green color was considered unpatriotic, too close to Prussian green, and the writhing insect-like metalwork was much too weird for the public. Time has defeated his critics however, and Guimard’s Art Nouveau Métro entrances have become one of the city’s trademarks.
(1893-1917) This style of architecture is also found in these Arrondissements:
At the end of World War I, Paris was exuberant—the world had just survived “the war to end all wars. High-speed ocean liners crisscrossed the Atlantic; Surrealism shocked the art world; radios poured out jazz music. The Modern Age had arrived. Trying to express this freedom and movement, architects responded to the jazzy rhythm with angular shapes reminiscent of the new cruise ships. World War II put an end to Art Deco’s optimism and the less-flamboyant lines of pure Modernism took over. Factories from this time have converted into residential use. Turning a loft into a livable space requires consulting an architect. In general, remodeling the interior of a loft will not require approval from building co-owners but any changes affecting the exterior of the building will need building co-owner and city approval.
(1918-39) This style of architecture is also found in these Arrondissements:
These years are often seen as a disaster for French architecture. Some terrible mistakes were made, in particular the destruction of Les Halles in central Paris. Building styles from the 1950’s had to meet a large demand for new housing quickly and affordably as almost no new housing in Paris had been created during the previous 20 years. To meet the demand over 2500 buildings were constructed during the decade but Paris did not have a coherent building plan in place so developers were left to their own whims as to the height and size of their buildings with little concern for the surrounding architecture. Developers often prioritised profit over architectural beauty but they provided the Parisian population with well-equipped, low-rent housing. At the same time this was the period of Le Corbusier and his influence can be seen in the luxury buildings of the period which often have large balconies, modern layouts, and lots of light. The majority of buildings from this period have a brick, stone or concrete façade, elevators, low ceilings, carpeting, and small rooms.
(1945 – 1970’s) This style of architecture is also found in these Arrondissements:
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In the 1980s, President Mitterrand unveiled a new architectural concept to move Paris into the next millennium. His “grands travaux” brought both praise and horror as they evolved, but no one can deny that the final result is a renewed and diverse city. Mitterrand is responsible for commissioning the Grand Louvre’s new glass pyramid entrance (created by I.M. Pei), the move of the Ministry of Finance into a new building (designed by Paul Chemetov), the Grande Arche de la Defense (by Von Spreckelsen), the Cité de la Musique (by Pritzer-prize winner Christian de Portzamparc), the Institut du Monde Arabe (by Jean Nouvel), the Opera Bastille (by the less-accomplished Carlos Ott), and the new library (by Dominique Perrault), now named the Bibliotèque François-Mitterrand. Apartment buildings from this period offer large windows and storage space, but lack the architectural details of previous styles.
(1980’s to present) This style of architecture is also found in these Arrondissements:
