Gigi On Earth

Paris is famous for its beautiful Haussmann architecture, with those iconic six-story buildings topped with Mansard roofs. One of the interesting things about these buildings is that they give the city a sense of uniform density across the different arrondissements, which makes walking through Paris feel balanced no matter where you are.

The city’s layout is pretty well-organized too. On most streets, you’ll find retail shops on the ground floor, while the upper levels are home to apartments, work spaces, or even doctor’s offices. This mixed-use design creates a lively vibe throughout the city.

IWhat I found really cool is how each arrondissement seems to offer a similar experience for its residents. In a lot of North American cities, there’s a pretty clear divide between areas with single-family homes and those with high-density apartment or condo living. This kind of separation tends to create a stronger socioeconomic divide—where only certain people can afford to live in certain neighbourhoods.

While I know Paris has its own housing challenges and is far from affordable for many, I still found it comforting that no matter where you live in the city, you’re likely to experience a similar density and won’t be stuck in a high-density area with fewer services. It felt more inclusive in that way.