This week offered a captivating immersion into the built environment of Paris through the course “Architectures of Paris” with Professor Linnéa Rollenhagen Tilly. Split between in-class learning at Reid Hall and on-site explorations throughout the city, the course provides a vivid introduction to the architectural and urban history of the French capital.

Each neighborhood visit reveals a different facet of Paris. The elegant streets of the 16th arrondissement showcase the city’s refined residential heritage, while the lively areas around the Buttes-Chaumont highlight a more popular and eclectic character. The contrast continues at La Défense, where the modern business district displays a strikingly different vision of urban design.

Moving from one district to another creates a fuller understanding of how Paris has evolved over time. Historical context meets lived experience, and lectures come alive when standing directly in front of the buildings discussed in class.

Overall, the course offers an enriching way to see Paris from new angles. It turns the city into an open-air classroom, revealing details and histories that often go unnoticed at first glance.