Paris’ rebuilding

January 14, 2023 2:12 PM

In the 19th century Paris was torn down and totally rebuilt according to the urban plan of just two men. [Twitter thread / Rattibha unroll] via
posted by ellieBOA (7 comments total)

The Twitter thread was from a newsletter for subscribers to the linked site, and Threadreader hadn’t responded to all the requests to unroll, I hadn’t heard of Rattibha but it has the same functionality.
posted by ellieBOA at 2:14 PM on January 14, 2023

This seems to be some kind of right-wing trad account, which is why its discussion doesn't mention one of the most important aspects of the Haussmanization of Paris—the attempt to minimize organized working class power by clearing traditional proletarian enclaves and creating broad boulevards which were meant to prevent the construction of barricades and hence a repeat of the revolutions of 1848, 1830, and 1789. In this sense it was a forerunner of the kinds of urban renewal, slum clearance, and gentrification projects that receive so much criticism today.
posted by derrinyet at 2:46 PM on January 14, 2023 [10 favorites]

Paris is a well-worthy mess
posted by chavenet at 2:50 PM on January 14, 2023

Hey, so @culturaltutor is a fascist gateway account (as are many accounts that use Greco-Roman statuary as their pic). While he has scrubbed any clear allusions to fascism, white supremacy, etc from his account, he still follows many outright racist accounts. In my experience, the twitter algorithm will start feeding those more overt accounts into your “home”/“for you” or whatever we’re calling the algofeed today. So if you don’t want that kind of smoke on your feed, then don’t click the main link in the post.

Would appreciate it if we don’t link to him in the future.

Here’s the Wikipedia link to Haussmann’s renovation of Paris if you’re curious to learn more about this from a reputable source.
posted by turbowombat at 2:50 PM on January 14, 2023 [7 favorites]

A few people have already pointed out that this is a bullshit account (the "see, totalitarianism works!" angle should have been a snapping red flag in a brisk wind) but I also want to point out that the best thing I can say, aesthetically, about the rows of cookie-cutter Haussmann buildings is that they help the actual interesting architecture of Paris pop. Centre Pompidou wouldn't really stand out in a more eclectic environment, but it's brilliant surrounded by unadventurous wedding cake baloney.
posted by phooky at 2:59 PM on January 14, 2023 [2 favorites]

Oh no I didn’t know that before posting!! Requested deletion.
posted by ellieBOA at 3:09 PM on January 14, 2023 [2 favorites]

The Robert Moses of his day?
posted by The Underpants Monster at 3:34 PM on January 14, 2023