Paris

[Paul Clerkin]

Hading back to Paris tomorrow... love that city.... i have a good architectural guide that deals with the "big" named buildings....

just wondering was there any hidden little gems of recent architecture in the city centre I should see....

[GregF]

How about getting some shots Paul of the breathtaking sites of that great European city and posting them on the site.....as well as some shots of the rather grotty and unknown areas of the place.......(well that's if they exist)

[Paul Clerkin]

There are some here:
http://www.archiseek.com/guides/paris/index.html
I took these the last time and never got around to finishing the text. Taking the DV camera and the slr with me this time, so expect a lot more.

[GregF]

Great photos Paul........They truely evoke all the spirit of the once imperial might of the French........Napoleon, the Republic.... etc, etc.......and most of all........ urban and civic respect and awareness.
(One would think that Romans/Greeks had made a comeback........with all those pediments and pillars)

The Samarataine Department Store somehow reminds me of a view towards the St Stephen's Green shopping Centre here in dear auld Dublin.

[Paul Clerkin]

The Samarataine is a lovely building, the details close up are fabulous.... the interior is good too but not a patch on Lafeyette Department Store which is astounding.

[feather]

Le Bon Marché is worth checking out, just to see the place where the whole phenomenon of department stores started (map etc. at http://www.lebonmarche.fr/anglais/index.htm)

Or a wander though the arcades, especially if you can get hold of Walter Benjamin's 'Passagenwerk' beforehand - it makes a rather strange tourist guide to 19th century Paris :-)
http://www.paris-touristoffice.com/va/parimages/convivial_pass/

As for Stephen's Green, it's definitely modelled on the type of late 19th century glass-and-steel department stores influenced by the Great Exhibition building, although I can't seem to find any information on the architect, only that it was built in 1988.

[Paul Clerkin]

I'll make sure to see that, I don't mind shopping as long as its architecturally interesting

[ro_G]

Paul, if you can get out to Versailles it's very nice. Really nice wide tree lined roads going up to the Palace, which has nice grounds.

Get the mot to row you around the lake as well. I got a Fench girl to row me around the lake when I was there, it was very relaxing. She was knackered but I enjoyed it.

[Paul Clerkin]

Will not make it to Versailles this trip, gonna check out a few chateau in the Loire valley tho.

[StephenC]

Paul

For modern...

You could try

the Institute du Monde Arabe near Ile St Louis M. Jussieu

La Defense - as it is a work in progress

Ministry of Finance in Bercy

The new Metro line - 14 I think.

or for older

Jardin du Luxembourg

Palais de Challiot at Trocadero

The Virgin megastores on Champs Elysee and Carousel du Lourve

That should keep you busy

[kefu]

Try the Andre Citreon park and surrounds near the Peripherique in southwest. Lots of very modern buildings around here, like a mini-La Defense, but of very varied quality.
Jardin Atlantique above Montparnasse station is great, raised a hundred foot or more above trains. New SNCF buildings there as well at back of main entrance.
Parc des Expositions in Northeast is spectacular if you've never been. But Walk up to it along the canal from Bastille. It's about an hour walk but worth it.
Try also Cartier Fondation near Montparnasse
and National Library complex, which gets larger and more developed every time you go.

[kefu]

Also, Frank Gehry building, American Centre, in Bercy near the Finance Department. Not one of his most outrageous but worth a look.

[Paul Clerkin]

Got lots of lovely photos - both video and stills.... and about 10 rolls off the SLR...

[ro_G]

going myself tomorrow.

Don't suppose you found any nice eateries out in the Latin Quarter Paul, I'm staying in Montparnasse

[Paul Clerkin]

Yeah but this isnt the place... will make a proper post to P45 in the next few days...

[MG]

Any more photos?

[trace]

According to Project for Public Spaces, Inc, http://www.pps.org/newsletter/Aug2002_Feature, Paris: The Best Public Spaces Keep Getting Better.