New stage successfully completed for the Place de la Concorde redevelopment project. After the announcement, in mid-January, by the socialist mayor of the capital, of the future semi-pedestrianization of the largest square in Paris, a dedicated commission had been working since April on the transformation of these 7.8 ha in the heart of the 8th arrondissement. The Concorde Commission, created specifically to reflect on and carry out this project, is made up of a group of experts in heritage, environment, landscape, climate, architecture and even mobility and a college of large neighbors bringing together the cultural and economic actors of Place de la Concorde, under the presidency of Jean-Jacques Aillagon and the vice-presidency of Ann-José Arlot. The program proposed by the City “will serve as a working basis for project proposals from the project management teams”. Its objective is to put in place lasting developments on this site, which has been fully classified as a historic monument since 1937.
The City of Paris welcomes this Wednesday the favorable opinion rendered on this subject by the National Commission for Heritage and Architecture (CNPA) during a meeting held this Thursday, September 26 at the initiative of the councilor. “This vast automobile roundabout, one of the most important urban heat islands in the capital, will be able to begin its transformation and adapt to climatic changes while respecting its history and its remarkable heritage,” rejoiced the municipality in a press release.
“Reveal the beauty of Place de la Concorde”
The twelve recommendations established by the Concorde Commission, integrated into the program presented by the City of Paris to the CNPA, propose, in particular, to revegetate or dewaterproof 3.2 ha “to mitigate the effects of global warming”.
Other recommendations: remove the hoppers which cross the square, from the Georges-Pompidou route, along the Seine. Road tunnels – which allow, in particular, motorists to reach the Jardins des Champs-Élysées – which complicate pedestrian access to the river. The document also suggests “choosing plant species adapted to climatic challenges”, “maintaining the symmetrical composition of the square” or even “giving priority to pedestrians and vegetation”.
“This favorable opinion will now make it possible to initiate the next steps and in particular the selection of a project which will reveal the beauty of Place de la Concorde and adapt it to the challenges of our century,” says the municipality. The project will be selected by a jury made up of representatives of the City of Paris, the Ministry of Culture and all members of the commission.
This jury will first choose in mid-October the five candidates admitted to submit an offer, then the winning project among these five, during the first quarter of 2025. Before the presentation of the final project in 2026 then the studies and works.
