Here’s a photo worthy of Instagram. Worthy of an #emilyinparis, ( the famous Netflix serie). A young girl with a beret on her head against the backdrop of the front of a brasserie adorned with huge clusters of wisteria and cherry blossoms!
A cliché soon to be relegated to oblivion? On February 9, the Paris Council voted unanimously in favor of a charter to regulate these floral arrangements above Paris cafes. The objective being to verify compliance with the town planning code on a case-by-case basis.
It must be said that these floral decorations have experienced unprecedented popularity among cafe owners over the last five years, following the works of florist Luc Deschamps. A pioneer in this decorative art, the florist on Avenue Niel in the 17th, known for his floral arrangements for events, has decorated numerous storefronts and café terraces with his giant floral arrangements. Starting with Maison Sauvage in Saint Germain des Prés in 2017. It was only its second creation. Today, he has more than a hundred to his credit.
So what exactly do we criticize about these floral decorations that tourists fall in love with, finding them “so Paris”? Firstly, the overdose. Today, it is estimated that more than 300 Parisian cafes have succumbed to these decorations, which add color to their facades.
This begins to tire more than one Parisian, especially when the cafes are lined up next to each other like in Saint Germain des Prés where these giant flowers appear on every street corner. With more and more exuberant flowers and more and more garish colors, going from barbie pink to garish blue or mimosa yellow, it looks like a competition for the most ornate facade. Some floral arrangements sometimes extend over three corners and two floors. Even some MacDonald’s restaurants have succumbed to this fashion. Certain facades of Haussmanian buildings are in the process of being distorted, hence the desire of the Paris town hall to ask the architects of Bâtiments de France to give their opinion, especially in the historic districts of the city… Paris Center would concentrate on it alone has a third of flowery facades followed by the 11th and 14th (respectively 10%).
There is also the environmental question. We know that plastic is not very appreciated in Paris. This is true for bottles as much as for floral decorations which can be laminated. If Paris is committed to zero plastic, it is difficult for the municipality to accept these plastic floral arrangements. Not to mention the aesthetic side. Floral creations can thus see the original bright green become greenish and red or purple flowers faded by the sun… The problem therefore comes from the plastic of these flowers which in the long run becomes ugly.
A position not shared by Maison Deschamps, which claims semi-artificial floral decorations. With a sustainable and responsible approach. Their floral arrangements are designed with real natural chestnut branches mounted with fabric flowers. “Our decorations are durable and responsible” we can read on their website. “The floral arrangements are collected in the workshops where the natural branches are separated from each fabric flower. These same fabric flowers are cleaned in order to be reused. »
Another question in the hot seat: the absence of prior authorization. Today, no declaration to the town hall is necessary before putting up your floral arrangement. This is where the problem lies. For Marcel Bénézet in charge of cafés in the the GHR, the employers’ union of Parisian cafes, these installations should obtain authorization from the co-ownership, which many café owners have not done. In addition, according to him, “these floral decorations carry fire risks when windows on the upper floors are open. Most of these flowers are flammable and can cause fires that are dangerous for staff or customers of establishments.
In any case, cafes, brasseries and restaurants are not ready to remove their floral displays. And they would even take a very dim view of such an initiative after the ban on terrace heating and the energy crisis.
Of course, the sometimes high prices of around €30,000 can deter many, but the return on investment is phenomenal. Some are talking about a turnover increasing by 30% or even 50%…
Undeniably, tourists prefer to stop for a coffee on a flowered terrace. The advantage of a flowery storefront is that you can see it from afar. However, more visibility also means more people pushing through the door of the establishment. Seeing the photo of your storefront posted on social networks can bring the café owner thousands more followers and notoriety that