Talk by Carola Hein, Professor of the History of Architecture and Urban Planning at Delft University of Technology and 2026-2027 fellow at the Paris IAS-City of Paris Chair, as part of the Les Traversées du Marais festival.

Presentation 

The recent opening of the Seine for swimming and the revitalisation of its quays have profoundly transformed Parisians’ relationship with their river. What if this revival heralded a new way of experiencing the city?

This lecture explores the evolving links between the Seine, architecture, urban planning and lifestyles. It shows how the return of new ways of using the river can become a powerful catalyst for change, inspiring a more sustainable Paris whilst revealing the richness of its heritage.

An invitation to imagine the Paris of tomorrow through a key question: how can we (re)ignite the imagination of life alongside the Seine in order to reinvent the spaces it shapes and make its heritage a driving force for a sustainable city?

Les traversées du Marais festival 

For three days, the Les Traversées du Marais festival returns to bring the streets, gardens and hidden courtyards of one of Paris’s most beautiful neighbourhoods to life. From 4 to 6 September 2026, more than 50 cultural institutions in the Marais will open their doors to offer the public unique artistic experiences: shows, concerts, performances, tours, workshops and screenings. This self-guided tour, taking place both outdoors and indoors, offers a unique dialogue between historical heritage and contemporary creativity. For this 12th edition, architecture takes centre stage as the theme of a festive, family-friendly and completely free weekend – the perfect opportunity to explore the cultural heart of Paris in a different way.

Discover the programme: https://lestraverseesdumarais.com/

Practical information

This conference is only available in person. No video conference option will be offered.

Site:

Paris Institute for Advanced Studies (IEA de Paris)

Gardes Room – 1st floor of the Hôtel de Lauzun

17 quai d’Anjou, 75004 Paris

Free admission, registration required, subject to availability. Registration is exclusively via the form below, which is specific to this conference.

For further information, please contact us at information@paris-iea.fr.

Important: As the Hôtel de Lauzun is a listed historic monument and in accordance with current regulations, the following are prohibited:

• smoking, both in the reception rooms and in the inner courtyard;
• eating or drinking in the conference room;
• wearing stiletto heels.