Paris Heat Wave Turns Attic Apartments Into "Baking" Danger Zones

A study of the 2003 heat wave found that living in a Paris attic room increased the risk of death by more than fourfold, according to France's public health agency. A 2023 Lancet Planetary Health study further found that Paris had the highest risk of heat-related deaths among 30 European capitals studied.

For residents like Amelie Kenney, 23, and her partner Francesca Pilia, 23, the danger is immediate. They live in a sixth-floor walk-up with a zinc roof, experiencing temperatures up to 40°C (104°F).

"It's baking," Kenney said, describing how she relies on a fan, cold showers, and wet rags to cope. She noted difficulty sleeping due to noise from open windows.

The Zinc Roof Problem

About three-quarters of Paris rooftops use zinc sheets, which absorb and conduct heat. This creates hazardous living conditions for residents of top-floor attic apartments.

Zoning regulations aimed at preserving Paris's architectural character, including rooftops, hinder insulation and sun-blocking measures. Maider Olivier of The Foundation for Housing for the Disadvantaged stated that attic apartments are often rented by students at high prices, with poor ventilation.

"Regulations to protect rooftops do not protect the people living beneath them," Olivier said.