You wouldn't believe how long I pondered the rationale of building just the outside of what it purported to be - just another office block. I was able to learn, by overhearing the ramblings of a rather drunk frenchman, that it is a strategic military defense system. The cost was justified by the trauma that would surely be felt by the rest of the human race if the cultural centre of the world was destroyed in a nuclear (or chemical) blast. The loss of a few french lives would be easier for the french people to bear than the terminal embarrassment of knowing they were responsible for the millions of fashion victims round the world who would suddenly have to decide what to wear in the morning ALL BY THEMSELVES. The name was chosen because no-one would expect the French to call something by its real name. They even say "cravatte" when they mean "tie" and "part-fun" when they mean "perfume", which is a deadly serious subject.
    Which brings us on to why Paris smells different from other cities. This is due to the large volumes of very choice fragrances which have been used in a relatively small area over the ages. The fragrant volatile organic compounds are absorbed into the superstructure, where they mature over time to produce the fragrance of Paris today.
 

There are loads of modern offices around here.

These pictures free for non commercial private perusal. ©cip, 1999

Email me at:cip1000@sobi.org