The hidden geometry on Parisian sidewalks

Abstract

Despite not being perceived, geometry is present in our daily lives, in a explicitly or more discreetly way, so we must strive to perceive it. Seeking to show that there is always something where there apparently is nothing, this article presents the results of a visual survey on the sidewalks of Paris, highlighting its casual geometry, probably not noticed by pedestrians. Despite the apparent lack of expressiveness, the results show that the Parisian sidewalks "hide" a kind of spontaneous geometry, resulting from interventions by anonymous workers who, involuntarily, leave their marks on the city sidewalks, giving them a peculiar aspect in a geometric point of view. The research follows the approach that has been developed by the author since 2005 on the theme of urban sidewalk.