Urban Paris Research Articles

Evaluation of Green Infrastructure Benefits in Urban Areas in Paris

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the evaluation of green infrastructure benefits in urban areas in Paris. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: An evaluation of green infrastructure benefits in urban Paris found that parks and street trees effectively mitigate urban heat island effects and improve air quality by reducing pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. Recommendations emphasize integrating green infrastructure into urban planning to sustain these benefits and promote environmental resilience, highlighting its critical role in enhancing urban livability and sustainability in Paris. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Ecosystem services framework, social-ecological Systems (SES) theory & urban political ecology (UPE may be used to anchor future studies on the evaluation of green infrastructure benefits in urban areas in Paris. Foster interdisciplinary collaboration between urban planners, landscape architects, environmental scientists, and social researchers to enhance the design, implementation, and management of green infrastructure projects. Advocate for policy frameworks that integrate green infrastructure into urban planning and development strategies at local, regional, and national levels. This includes incentivizing green infrastructure adoption through financial incentives, tax breaks, and regulatory support.

The Transmission of Trauma from Mother to Infant: Radioactive Residues and Counter-Transference in the Case of a Haitian Mother and Her Two-Year-Old Son

ABSTRACTClose observation of the interactions between a traumatised mother and her infant son provides information on the modes of transmission of psychic trauma in the mother–infant dyad. Following the presentation of a current literature review on the theme, the subject of “radioactive residue” and counter-transference in the transmission of psychic trauma from mother to infant will be illustrated through a clinical case study that focuses on a Haitian mother and her two-year-old infant son who has been referred to a “transitional care nursery” in urban Paris. The encounter with this mother–infant dyad is analysed through observing the quality of the interactions that take place between the mother and infant in order to determine how a particularly traumatic narrative impacts the mother–infant relationship, in addition to relations with the clinician. Mother and infant respond to one another through the emission and reception of “radioactive residues” as hypothesized by Gampel. This clinical case study shows that there is a need to consider transcultural factors and collective experience and history when analysing traumatic events. Additionally, the case study shows that counter-transference can be an effective clinical tool for gaining access to an infant's experience as the recipient of a traumatic narrative.

Hard Nodes in Soft Surroundings: A ‘dream of islands’ strategy for urban sustainability

Keith Culver, Rachel Guilloteau and Christelle Hue describe a French industry-university-government collaboration to improve energy and environmental performance of urban rail stations, conceived as ‘hard nodes’ in an urban network ecology. From this example the authors reflect on the challenges of urban eco-innovation in urban Paris (Lieusaint Moissy, Saint Denis, and Versailles Chantiers).

Objective Measures of Emotion During Virtual Walks through Urban Environments

Previous studies were able to demonstrate different verbally stated affective responses to environments. In the present study we used objective measures of emotion. We examined startle reflex modulation as well as changes in heart rate and skin conductance while subjects virtually walked through six different areas of urban Paris using the StreetView tool of Google maps. Unknown to the subjects, these areas were selected based on their median real estate prices. First, we found that price highly correlated with subjective rating of pleasantness. In addition, relative startle amplitude differed significantly between the area with lowest versus highest median real estate price while no differences in heart rate and skin conductance were found across conditions. We conclude that interaction with environmental scenes does elicit emotional responses which can be objectively measured and quantified. Environments activate motivational and emotional brain circuits, which is in line with the notion of an evolutionary developed system of environmental preference. Results are discussed in the frame of environmental psychology and aesthetics.

Objective Measures of Emotion During Virtual Walks through Urban Environments

Previous studies were able to demonstrate different verbally stated affective responses to environments. In the present study we used objective measures of emotion. We examined startle reflex modulation as well as changes in heart rate and skin conductance while subjects virtually walked through six different areas of urban Paris using the StreetView tool of Google maps. Unknown to the subjects, these areas were selected based on their median real estate prices. First, we found that price highly correlated with subjective rating of pleasantness. In addition, relative startle amplitude differed significantly between the area with lowest versus highest median real estate price while no differences in heart rate and skin conductance were found across conditions. We conclude that interaction with environmental scenes does elicit emotional responses which can be objectively measured and quantified. Environments activate motivational and emotional brain circuits, which is in line with the notion of an evolutionary developed system of environmental preference. Results are discussed in the frame of environmental psychology and aesthetics.

Modern Transitions in 19th Century Paris: Baudelaire and Renoir

Modern Transitions in 19th Century Paris: Baudelaire and Renoir 1 Karen Turman University of California, Santa Barbara Le vieux Paris n’est plus (la forme d’une ville change plus vite, helas! que le cœur d’un mortel) 2 Charles Baudelaire “Le Cygne” Charles Baudelaire constructed his poetry through the eye of an observer on the streets of Paris during the mid-19th century, seeking the inherent beauty amongst the transitional urban spaces. The industrialization of urban Paris served as the theater for Baude- laire’s enchanting and controversial verse, redefining poetry in a modern context. Baudelaire depicted images of contemporary Pa- risian life with a sense of urgency and constant renewal, striving to communicate a feeling of change and ephemerality. This subject would later be treated by the Impressionist painters who would em- ploy the same concepts underlining transitional and modern urban spaces in the fixed media of painting. In this paper I compare the poem, “A une passante” from Baudelaire’s “Tableaux parisiens” from Les fleurs du mal (1857) with Les parapluies, a painting by Auguste Renoir, (1881-1886) in order to discover the parallel emer- gence of modernity in Paris through the textual and later the visual. Within the framework of Baudelaire’s definition of modernity in his essay, “Le Peintre de la vie moderne,” and in terms of the industrial landscape and the contrasts of exteriority and interiority, I analyze these works of fixed art forms to explore the dichotomy between conceptions of modernity and its representation. “A Une Passante” A new facade of Paris was the result of sweeping archi- tectural changes: the landscape had become modern. Baron Hauss- © 2010 by Karen Turman.

Geostatistical assessment of Pb in soil around Paris, France

This paper presents a survey on soil Pb contamination around Paris (France) using the French soil monitoring network. The first aim of this study is to estimate the total amount of anthropogenic Pb inputs in soils and to distinguish Pb due to diffuse pollution from geochemical background Pb. Secondly, this study tries to find the main controlling factors of the spatial distribution of anthropogenic Pb. We used the technique of relative topsoil enhancement to evaluate the anthropogenic stock of Pb and we performed lognormal kriging to map Pb regional distribution. The results show a strong gradient of anthropogenic stock of Pb around the urban Paris area. We estimate a total amount of anthropogenic stock of Pb close to 143,000 metric tons, which corresponds to an average accumulation of 5.9 t km−2. Our study suggests that a grid-based survey can help to quantify diffuse Pb contamination by using robust techniques of calculation and that it might also be used to validate predictions of deposition models.

Les parents immigrés pris « au piège » de la cité

A sociological inquiry into Maghrebi immigrant families' experiences in urban Paris distils interview data from Algerian and Moroccan parents. Findings reveal that most feel ashamed in their employment and housing situations. Mothers' and fathers' viewpoints are contrasted regarding their children and housing. Tenement living has weakened family morale and discipline. Causes and outcomes of young peoples' disillusionment with education are explored. Many families face a quandary of supporting young adults in a job sector of high unemployment. One father's disappointment in his children's accomplishment is illustrated in an extended interview excerpt. In contrast with the dominant ethno-culturist accounts, Maghrebi family disorders are attributed to social and economic factors that affect immigrants before others.