--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In Paris, there has to be a presence…" description: "\"In Paris, there has to be a presence. History becomes the most interesting when it's compared to the present. I mean there's a whole group of people th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/thom-mayne-12101_becomes_in-paris-there-has-to-be-a-presence-hist_3126934.jpg" --- # In Paris, there has to be a presence. History becomes the… ![“In Paris, there has to be a presence. History becomes the most interesting when it's compared to the present. I mean there's a whole group of people that want to build new buildings that look like old buildings.” quote by Thom Mayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/thom-mayne-12101_becomes_in-paris-there-has-to-be-a-presence-hist_3126934.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/thom-mayne-12101_becomes_in-paris-there-has-to-be-a-presence-hist_3126934.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/thom-mayne-12101_becomes_in-paris-there-has-to-be-a-presence-hist_3126934.jpg) > “In Paris, there has to be a presence. History becomes the most interesting when it's compared to the present. I mean there's a whole group of people that want to build new buildings that look like old buildings.” [Thom Mayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-mayne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights the importance of presence in Paris, comparing historic and contemporary architecture, and the tension between new construction and historic styles. **In simple terms:** Paris architecture thrives on juxtaposing old and new. Key Takeaway Blend historic context with modern design. Themes architecture history urban design preservation Mood reflective inspired Type cultural educational When to use this quote - urban planning - heritage tourism - new construction projects - architectural education Key Concepts contextualism modernism heritage cityscape Questions to Reflect On - What balances innovation with preservation? - How does present context reshape historic perception? A Different Perspective New buildings may dilute historic authenticity if not sensitively integrated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buildings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buildings/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Old buildings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-buildings/) [Paris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paris/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Presence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presence/) ## Related quotes > [Cities need old buildings so badly it is probably impossible for vigorous streets and districts to grow without them… for really new ideas of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/cities-need-old-buildings-so-badly-it-is-probably-impossible-for/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [Old ideas can sometimes use new buildings. New ideas must use old buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/old-ideas-can-sometimes-use-new-buildings-new-ideas-must-use-old/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Buildings should not look like Lady Gaga.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-m-stern/buildings-should-not-look-like-lady-gaga/) [Robert A. M. Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-m-stern/) > [NASA is an utterly fascinating place, and the fact that the buildings look so anonymous almost makes it more fascinating. You walk by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/nasa-is-an-utterly-fascinating-place-and-the-fact-that-the-buildings/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [Often, architects work too hard trying to make their buildings look different. 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You'd have to be oblivious not to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-katchor/i-always-lived-in-old-buildings-and-i-thought-about-who-lived-here/) [Ben Katchor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-katchor/) > [Our beautiful old buildings tell us so much about who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clarke/our-beautiful-old-buildings-tell-us-so-much-about-who-we-are/) [George Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clarke/) > [I wanted to preserve the old buildings, not to destroy them and build something new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farah-diba/i-wanted-to-preserve-the-old-buildings-not-to-destroy-them-and-build/) [Farah Diba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farah-diba/) > [New ideas often need old buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/new-ideas-often-need-old-buildings/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [In New York City, when they develop something, they never use the old buildings. It's so wasteful. 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You may not like it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-mayne/i-think-all-good-architecture-should-challenge-you-make-you-start/) [Thom Mayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-mayne/) > [The multiplicity of ideas is what I'm interested in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-mayne/the-multiplicity-of-ideas-is-what-i-m-interested-in/) [Thom Mayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-mayne/) > [I've been such an outsider my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-mayne/i-ve-been-such-an-outsider-my-whole-life/) [Thom Mayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-mayne/) > [For me the meaning of my work is much more fluid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-mayne/for-me-the-meaning-of-my-work-is-much-more-fluid/) [Thom Mayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-mayne/) > [The multiplicity of ideas is what Im interested in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-mayne/the-multiplicity-of-ideas-is-what-im-interested-in/) [Thom Mayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-mayne/) > [There is no modern prototype for a campus. 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