Paris has once again imposed a restriction on the maximum height allowed for new buildings in the city. This decision comes in response to the construction of the Tour Triangle tower, which faced significant opposition. The new height limit dictates that buildings in Paris cannot exceed 37 meters or 12 storeys, reintroducing the urban planning law first implemented in 1977. The move is part of mayor Anne Hidalgo's plan to reduce carbon emissions and ensure a bioclimatic urban environment. The Tour Triangle, once completed, will become the third tallest building in Paris and will house a range of facilities. The reintroduction of the height ban follows a similar trend seen in China, where restrictions on building heights have recently been implemented.
Paris has once again enforced a restriction on the maximum height allowed for new buildings in the city. This decision comes in response to the controversial construction of the Tour Triangle tower, which was designed by the Swiss studio Herzog & de Meuron. The newly announced height limit dictates that new buildings in the French capital cannot exceed 37 meters or 12 storeys.
This move essentially reintroduces the same urban planning law that was initially implemented in 1977, following the construction of the Tour Montparnasse. The Tour Montparnasse, an office tower standing at 210 meters, was designed by architects Eugène Beaudouin, Urbain Cassan, and Louis Hoym de Marien, and faced significant public opposition. The height limit introduced in 1977 remained in effect until 2010 when it was overturned by former mayor Bertrand Delanoë. At that time, the new limit allowed for office towers up to 180 meters tall and housing blocks up to 50 meters tall.
The reintroduction of the height ban is a part of mayor Anne Hidalgo’s Local Bioclimatic Urban Plan, which aims to reduce carbon emissions in Paris. This decision was influenced by the ongoing construction of the Tour Triangle, a pyramid-shaped tower designed by Herzog & de Meuron. The construction of the tower began in 2021 and is expected to be finished in 2026.
The construction of Tour Triangle has faced significant opposition and experienced a delay of 12 years due to various legal and planning disputes. It has become a focal point in the city council’s efforts to restrict building heights, along with the Tours Duo skyscrapers by Jean Nouvel, which stand at 180 and 125 meters respectively.
Once the Tour Triangle is completed, it will become the third tallest building in Paris. Its trapezoidal shape means that it will appear as a slender tower when viewed from central Paris, but its full width will be visible from the east and west perspectives. Internally, the Tour Triangle will accommodate a range of facilities including a hotel, office spaces, a conference center, as well as various retail shops and restaurants.
The height ban is a component of a broader bioclimatic plan for Paris, aimed at ensuring the city remains attractive and enjoyable in the face of rising temperatures. The effort to enforce the ban was spearheaded by Émile Meunier, a Green Party representative, who argued against the notion that Paris needed towering structures to compete with London’s skyline. In a similar vein, China has recently implemented restrictions on building heights. Supertall skyscrapers are now limited to a maximum height of 500 meters, indicating a shift in construction practices.
According to the newly released policy on the website of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, buildings exceeding 250 meters in height are subject to strict limitations in China. The policy not only prohibits imitative designs but also outlines the responsibilities of chief architects within the country’s urban areas.
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