Preparing for Peace

Progress, Volume XI, Issue 10, 1 June 1916, Page 635

Preparing for Peace

V£_ Exhibition of the “ Re-organised City in Paris this year to prepare plans M" for the rehabilitation of France on the return of Peace. "Ay)

The Belgian Authorities together with the English Town Planning experts have been busy for some time past preparing plans for the re-building of their cities as soon as peace is declared, and now France has announced an exhibition to be held in Paris this year on similar lines. With this object in view the exhibition has been planned of “The Re-organized City. Its beautification and Hygiene, to be given on the terrace of the Tuilleries and in the Salles du Jen de Paume,

private dwellings. Farm and factory construction, materials and methods of construction and the interior administration of private dwellings. The General Manager of the exhibition will be Edouard Tijou, Director of the International Exhibition of works of Art at the Grand Palais in 1912. In announcing the coming exhibition the management says : ‘ ‘ Deeply moved by the sufferings of our brothers in the invaded districts and by the sad state of this part of our beloved country, a number

Paris, under the direction of the General Association of Hygienists and Municipal Technicians of France and the countries speaking the French language. It will be under the distinguished patronage of the President of the French Republic and of the Ministry Col Commerce, Industry, Post Offices and Telegraphs, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Public Education and of Arts, and the Municipal Council of Paris. As the result the General Council of the Department of the Seine, of this exhibition plans will be devised for the reconstruction of destroyed cities and villages, the development and administration of towns and villages, the reconstruction of public buildings and

of our countrymen now regard the measures to be taken to reconstruct our destroyed cities and villages as an essential element of recovery to a normal state. The General Association of Municipal Hygienists and Technicians of France and of countries speaking the French language consider that the moment has come to address a pressing appeal to the patriotism of all to organize from now on all our technical and industrial skill to help rebuild our cities and private dwellings. It seems to them that an exhibition of the necessary materials to prepare and hasten this work of reconstruction would be of valuable assistance, and they are using all their efforts to organize such an exhibition."

The programme decided on includes four groups of exhibits, divided into twelve principal classes. In the first group will be all appliances required for a modern city; plans of administration and development, plans for reconstruction and for the beautifying and sanitation of a modern city, precautions being taken ,to respect the style of architecture of each district, the diversity of which styles add so much charm to French cities, and for the preservation of historic monuments and particularly of beautiful beauty spots. The second group will include general buildings, public buildings, private dwellings and road and factory buildings. The third group will include modern building methods and materials for construction with models, and the fourth group will be specially devoted to legislation concerning the construction, development and beautification of French cities. Meetings and numerous conferences will tend to make familiar the necessary elements of a healthy national life. It is believed that this important economic manifestation will once again show both the friends and enemies of France that, confident in final victory . assured her by her army, she can organize her workmen to rebuild the ruins made by her enemies and place the country once again worthy of the dedication she has made of it, to the development of Liberty, of Justice and of Progress.

Group 1., which is devoted to the development of towns and villages, will present plans for reconstruction, part plans, and plans for the whole work, and for the development and use of undamaged sections. Class 2 of this group will offer plans of administration of towns and villages. Class 3 will be devoted to public highways and promenades, squares for public use, gardens, parks/fields for play and sports, wood preserves, upkeep of roads and pavements, methods of repair and construction, public lighting, public conveyances, etc. Class 4 will deal with the appearance of a city and its beautification, general schemes of decoration, general coordination of buildings with the landscape, the preservation of monuments, historic styles and archeological spots. Class 5 will cover the sanitary question, illustrating sanitation methods before reconstruction, sanitation of city, country and factories, the protection of drinking water, filtering, purifying and sterilization; conduits and the distribution of water, the collection and disposal of surface water from the public roads and from houses, factories, etc.; filth removal and its treatmentgeneral methods of heat, .light and force sanitary service, health department' service, public charities disinfecting plants, etc. Group 11. deals especially with public buildings, palaces and public monuments. Among them are specially grouped buildings of public utility, city halls and various municipal offices; sanitary establishments for cures and lectures; shower baths, halls and markets, military establishments, the exterior and interior architecture of buildings and temporary buildings. Class 7 in this group deals with private dwellings, the modern dwelling, lodging house, individual house and cheap houses, which will be shown by furnished models. Electric lighting and

distribution of power, electric canalization, telephones, etc., will be illustrated as well as heating and ventilation, the instalment of kitchens, kitchen fittings and vacuum air purifying apparatus. Class 8 will be devoted to farm and factory buildings, showing the model farm and its outbuildings; private dwellings and the distribution of water; barns, stables, cow sheds, sheep folds, pig styes, wells, manure pits, etc. Dairies, butteries, cheese rooms and distilleries will also be exhibited with the methods of draining and purifying dirty water. Factory construction in cities and the country will be illustrated with temporary sheds and portable buildings. In Class 9 materials and supplies used by the building trade, terracing and masonry, iron and wood work, locksmithing, roofing and plumbing, joinery, arrangement of chimneys, painting and varnishing will be exhibited. Also natural and artificial materials, stone, bricks, tiles, wood and iron, with various methods of rapid construction. Fixed and movable decorations of buildings, the furniture making industry and different types of dwellings and healthy rooms, including the "guest room," will also be illustrated in this class. Group IV., devoted to legislation, will give the principles and application of city and rural economy. Class 11 will compare French and foreign legislation and regulations, and Class 12 will show methods for realization of plans for the development and reconstruction of cities and repairs, covering syndicate and co-operative associations, private and public companies, regulations for the construction of towns and villages, and schools for imparting special technical skill.