Following the sharp criticism caused in 2021 by the start of the construction works for of “Tour Triangle”, the huge pyramid designed by Herzog & de Meuron scheduled to be completed in 2026, Paris reimposed a height limit for new buildings. They don’t have to go over 121 feet or 12 floors.

The decision is part of the Plan Local d’Urbanisme Bioclimatique (Local Bioclimatic Urban Plan) of the mayor Anne Hidalgo to reduce carbon emissions of the French capital and restores the urban planning law – in force until 2010 – introduced in 1977 following the construction of “Tour Montparnasse” – the 688-feet high office tower by Eugène Beaudouin, Urbain Cassan, and Louis Hoym de Marien.

The fight for the approval of the ban was led in particular by the Green councillor Émile Meunier, who defined this move on Twitter as “historic”. “The new Paris Local Urban Plan marks the end of the towers to return to a reasonable height,” he said.

China has also recently regulated the height of its buildings, but there is talk of very different proportions. The Chinese limit, rather strict, concerns in fact the skyscrapers from 820 feet high and up.

Cover image is courtesy of Herzog & de Meuron.