Historic heat waves in France are transforming Paris's iconic zinc rooftops into hazardous heat traps, particularly affecting residents of top-floor apartments. These dwellings, often the only affordable option for students and lower-income individuals, are experiencing dangerously high temperatures, turning living spaces into difficult environments during scorching days and warm nights.
A study of the 2003 heat wave in France, which caused an estimated 15,000 heat-related deaths, found that living in a Paris attic room directly under the roof increased the risk of death by more than fourfold, according to a report by France's public health agency. Furthermore, research published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal in 2023 identified Paris as having the highest risk of heat-related deaths among 30 European capitals studied.
The city's zinc rooftops, a UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage element that contributes to Paris's picturesque aesthetic, are a significant factor. While zinc is weather-resistant and recyclable, its metallic nature causes it to absorb and conduct heat. This characteristic makes apartments directly beneath these roofs particularly vulnerable to overheating.
Amelie Kenney, a 23-year-old recent graduate living in a sixth-floor walk-up, described her attic apartment as "baking in the whole afternoon" and impossible to cool. She and her partner pay 735 euros (approximately $835) per month for the small space, which faces west and receives direct sun from midday to dusk. "It was the cheapest place to be," Kenney stated, but added, "I think if I could spend extra money to be somewhere else, I would."
Many modern buildings in Paris, such as office blocks and shopping centers, are equipped with air conditioning. However, private apartments, especially in older, densely populated areas like central Paris with its classic Haussmann-style architecture, rarely have such amenities. Efforts to adapt these older buildings to mitigate extreme heat are sometimes hindered by zoning regulations designed to preserve the city's historical character, including its signature rooftops. These regulations can prevent residents from insulating roofs or installing shutters, despite the direct impact on their living conditions.
Kenney and her partner, who are from Australia and Italy respectively, are accustomed to heat, but Paris's recent temperatures, with daytime highs approaching 40 C (104 F) and nighttime lows around 25 C (77 F), have been particularly grueling. They rely on a small electric fan, cold showers, and hydration to cope. The dilemma of whether to open their window for air circulation, only to be disturbed by noise, creates a challenging cycle, which Kenney described as "very, very Kafkaesque."