Voting Station

Baron Haussmann

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Architect

The Resume

    (March 27, 1809-January 11, 1891)
    Born in Paris, France
    Birth name was Georges-Eugene Haussmann
    Civic planner
    Hired by Napoleon III to modernize Paris (1852)
    Changes included creating a series of broad, straight boulevards and replacing warrens of alleys and dead ends

Why he might be annoying:

    He called himself Baron even though he never received a title.
    His boulevards were designed to be too wide for rebels to barricade during a revolt and to allow the army to maneuver easily.
    He imposed a sameness on city blocks, with neighboring buildings having to be the same height and have aligned facades.
    His changes displaced the city's poor from central Paris to the outskirts.
    His renovations were so expensive that Napoleon III eventually fired him in an attempt to improve his own fading popularity (January 5, 1870).

Why he might not be annoying:

    He overhauled Paris' aging water and sewer systems, improving residents' health.
    He created numerous parks and green spaces.
    He greatly relieved the city's traffic congestion problems.
    He influenced the 'City Beautiful' movement in the US and Australia.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 13 Votes: 23.08% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 14 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 19 Votes: 57.89% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 88 Votes: 53.41% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 35 Votes: 37.14% Annoying