Books & ideas

A historical cruise through Paris' rivers

Pauline Guéna — 2026-03-17T11:00:00Z

Between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, as the monarchy established its authority across French territory, the rivers of the Paris Basin continued to be managed by various actors through negotiations aimed at coordination.

Water in the War in Ukraine: between mobilization and collapse

Sophie Lambroschini — 2025-02-11T08:56:08Z

Ukraine's water networks have been mobilized since the start of the war in 2014. Infrastructure workers are some of the last to leave settlements attacked by the Russian army. Water systems and people are resisting but are reaching the limits of their capacity to adapt to violence and disruptions.

Basic Urban Services in India: a Paradoxical Bricolage

Hugo Ribadeau-Dumas — 2021-03-15T08:00:00Z

Why is India still unable to efficiently supply basic services to all urban dwellers? When the public authorities concentrate large projects in megalopolises, small towns improvise heterogeneous solutions, thereby reinforcing segregation.

Running Water on Every Floor

Emmanuelle Hellier — 2018-02-15T08:00:00Z

How did people living in Paris, New York and London slowly gain access to running water? Although private companies shared the water market from the 17^th to the 18^th centuries, cities slowly realised the need for a public network.