Paris to build new ‘largest garden’ by 2024 olympics.
The “largest garden in Paris”, including new pedestrianised and landscaped zones, is expected to open between the Eiffel Tower and the Trocadero by year 2024
The Iéna bridge is also set to “go green”, ahead of the Olympic Games being held in the capital in year 2024.
The project comes from the Paris Mairie, and has been designed by American landscape architect, Kathryn Gustafson, whose plan beat three other finalists to be chosen in the Grand Site Tour Eiffel competition.
It will aim to “create a plant link” of more than one kilometre in length, allowing pedestrians to move freely between the Trocadero and military academy, l’École Militaire, via the Eiffel Tower.
It will also aim to make it easier for pedestrians to walk along the River Seine, and offer a wider array of seating areas and grass leisure spaces.
The Place de Varsovie will be pedestrianised, and there will be at least two large “open” areas designed to host events. There will be a promenade area installed between the Eiffel Tower and the Bir-Hakeim Métro station.
The Iéna bridge will have grass lawn laid along its entire length, as well as rows of trees. The Place Joffre is set to be revamped to further highlight its architecture heritage.
There will only be two “corridor roads” through the garden area, which will be accessible solely to public transport, and emergency vehicles.
Ms Gustafson said her ambition was to “build the biggest garden in Paris”.
Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo said: “Rethinking this site was obvious: The Eiffel Tower is the symbol of Paris but also of France. Seven million visitors climb it every year and 20 million people come to admire it without climbing it. We must think about the future of this space."
On the question of the environment, she said: "[The capital] should maintain its internationally-leading position on the environmental question” and “bet on a green city”.
The project comes as part of Ms Hidalgo’s wider plans to reduce the use of private vehicles, reduce pollution, and improve air quality throughout the city.
