” It was better before. ” Served in all sauces, the expression has not lost popularity in the capital. The mayor of Paris can testify to this, as its attempts to innovate the urban landscape have been decried. But the municipal team seems to be siding with its detractors this time, at least in part, since it has backtracked on a few projects such as the “Mikado” benches or the greening permits, sorts of shared gardens at the feet trees. Number of readers of 20 minutes shared their opinion on the subject via our call for testimonials.
The followers of #saccageparis, the protest movement against Anne Hidalgo’s policy, did not miss the opportunity to come and express a big “phew of relief”. “The renewal of street furniture was a real betrayal for lovers of Paris”, exclaims Sophie. Like her, many are delighted with the about-face of the municipality. Christophe and Emmanuel are happy to see the “big ugly cubes”, the “beams” and other “aberrations” returning to the dungeons of town planning.
Parisians very attached to the Haussmann style
The aesthetic choice of the latest installations is not unanimous. But if the tastes and the colors are not discussed, the readers note a lack of coherence in the style. From too “flashy” colors in Nicole’s eyes to the “ecological clichés” denounced by Martin, some people cry blasphemy at the idea of not respecting the Haussmannian line of the capital.
“Paris is the subtle and emblematic result of history and of the great architects of the 19th century,” vituperates Victoire. The “mushroom” benches, the repainted Wallace fountains… Very little for her. “What shocks me the most are the newsstands,” explains Justine. The attachment to the style adopted by Paris during the 19th century is very present in the grievances of our readers regarding the modifications made by the city.
Grégoire is also delighted with the turn taken by the municipality towards a more traditional aesthetic. But he remains fearful about the choices made in the future. “We are seeing the arrival of a very European and modern style which means that in Bordeaux, Brussels, Berlin or Paris, we now find the same urban furniture in grey, khaki, with the same curves. I fear that Paris will lose its visual identity. Above all, some like Yann do not understand where this desire to “modernize” the appearance of the capital comes from, since “no one has ever asked them for anything”. Like Anna, they regret “the hypocrisy of the town hall, which wants to go green, cycle, but which continues to build towers and promotes tourism and the Olympics, which are not well known for their environmentalism”.
The fear of seeing Paris become a “museum city”
Regrets are also found among those who liked the innovations of the town hall. There are those who fear seeing Paris forget to evolve with the times, by dint of reminders of history. Clara, for example, found the city’s use of contemporary materials “wonderful” and feared seeing the capital become “a museum city”. Same story from the side of Gus who wants to see the municipality continue with an idea of innovation: “I like the historic street furniture of Paris. But that shouldn’t prevent progress. Paris should not be put in formaldehyde. »
Helena resents the #saccageparis movement. According to her, a few changes will not “destroy or betray” the spirit of the city, especially since “there were not as many changes as some wanted to say. They are painful. In the 19th century, they would have complained about the Haussmannian saying that it was better before. “Reassembled, Gaëtan also resents opponents of Hidalgo for using the slightest pretext to “cry scandal”. According to this young Parisian, by ideological principle, everything the camp opposite does is to be thrown away: “If Hidalgo had restored the old furniture, they would have screamed waste and demanded modernity. »
Parisians called to be more responsible
Livio is more moderate. Amateur of the town hall tests, “there were good ideas”, he would have liked a little more “preparation and organization. The feet of the vegetated trees, it was top in the idea. But it was not maintained. A point on which all readers agree.
But it also summarizes the testimony of many readers, favorable or not to the changes, on the behavior of Parisians. “There were very nice facilities. But they don’t know how to do anything other than throw their trash in. “He even adds that if the lack of maintenance is undoubtedly the responsibility of the town hall, the degradations are indeed the fault of the citizens: “If it is damaged, it is very voluntary. The damage is the fault of the Parisians, not of the Holy Spirit. »
A message taken up by several Internet users who hear those who complain about the cleanliness and the state of the streets of the capital but wish to recall, as Marvin does, that “they are the ones who live in this city, they who walk the streets every the days, they who are primarily responsible for it. »