Stefano Boeri and Andrea Branzi explore the coexistence between humans and animals in urban spaces at the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain
At Place du Palais Royal in Paris, the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain inaugurates its new exhibition spaces with an innovative project: “Animaux dans la Ville” by Stefano Boeri and Andrea Branzi. The project merges architecture, contemporary art, and urban biodiversity, demonstrating how non-human species can be integrated into city life. Visitors can explore the exhibition in the niches of the Galleria Valois, at the Palais-Royal – Musée du Louvre metro station, until February 28, 2026.
A Non-Anthropocentric Approach to Urban Design
For years, Boeri and Branzi have asked themselves: how can cities respect the rights and perspectives of non-human species? This question guides a non-anthropocentric urban philosophy, promoting urban planning that balances human needs with animal presence.
The project unfolds in three distinct phases, each exploring different aspects of coexistence between animals and the urban environment:
2008: Introducing Animals into the Heart of Paris
Responding to the French government’s call for innovative ideas for Greater Paris (Grand Paris), Boeri and Branzi proposed animals free to move through urban spaces, including sacred cows and monkeys. Their vision: a city
designed not exclusively for humans, where animals contribute to the social and environmental fabric.
2014–2016: Milan as a Living Laboratory
Between 2014 and 2016, Stefano Boeri, along with architects Michele Brunello and Azzurra Muzzonigro, conducted workshops at the Politecnico di Milano. Students designed urban devices for animal integration, studying animal behavior and adopting the perspective of non-human species.
The results were exhibited in 2017 at the Museum of Natural History in Milan, highlighting innovative strategies for urban biodiversity.
2023: Parisian Collages and Urban Irony
In 2023, Andrea Branzi revisited the project through a series of collages depicting unexpected animals in familiar Parisian locations. The works combine poetic irony and urban critique, presenting a vision of modernity open to the plurality of living beings.
Why Visit “Animaux dans la Ville”
This exhibition is more than just an example of art and design: it is a critical reflection on urban planning, biodiversity, and animal rights. Animaux dans la Ville challenges visitors to rethink cities as shared habitats, blending human activity with nature, wildlife, and sustainable urban design.
