A City for Woody Allen? The New Banks of the Seine in Paris, a Product of Rootless Sociology and City Planning

A critical analysis of Paris's 2013 transformation of the Left Bank Seine expressway into a pedestrian promenade reveals it as a superficial, prestige-driven project with significant unintended consequences. The study argues that despite its aesthetic appeal and leisure enhancements, the initiative lacks substantive sociological or urban planning foundations, raising concerns about its impact on urban quality of life and the moralization of mobilities. This critique challenges the underlying ideology of such projects, suggesting they prioritize image over functional or social benefits.

Flonneau, M. (2014). A City for Woody Allen? The New Banks of the Seine in Paris, a Product of Rootless Sociology and City Planning. Transfers, 4(2), 131–137. https://doi.org/10.3167/trans.2014.040210