Nice, Marseille, Paris: Are these buildings in danger a ticking time bomb?
- Jean-Christophe DIMINO
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
In Nice, 16 rue Emmanuel Philibert, in the Port district, was recently evacuated urgently. In front of the sealed gate, a notice signed by the City of Nice ordered immediate security, highlighting imminent danger to the occupants. This latest incident adds to the long list of weakened old buildings in France, highlighting a worrying reality: the aging of the urban housing stock and the major risks it poses.
An aging... and dangerous housing stock
In France, nearly 10 million homes were built before 1949. These buildings, often charming and heritage-worthy, are also among the most at risk. Lack of maintenance or inappropriate renovations can weaken structures, sometimes leading to disasters.
The most tragic case remains that of Marseille in November 2018, where the collapse of two buildings on Rue d'Aubagne caused the deaths of eight people. Since then, other collapses have occurred, revealing a situation that is far from isolated.
What are the risks?
The dangers are multiple:
Collapse of floors or facades
Water infiltration weakening the foundations
Presence of asbestos, lead, mold
Electrical or gas failure, causing fire or explosion hazards
These building pathologies are not always visible to the naked eye, and occupants can live in latent danger for many years.
Local legislation and its decrees
Faced with these risks, the law provides for several measures:
“Imminent danger”: a municipal decree allows immediate evacuation and requires the owner to carry out the necessary work.
“Ordinary danger”: a longer procedure, but which requires restoration under penalty of sanctions.
The DPE and technical diagnostics: mandatory during sales or rentals are useful, but insufficient to detect structural dangers.
However, these procedures often take time, and responsibilities are sometimes diluted between owners, trustees, and local authorities.
Nice: the emblematic case of increased vigilance
The City of Nice, like other southern municipalities, is particularly concerned by the coexistence of old buildings, humidity, and extreme weather events. The building at 16 rue Emmanuel Philibert is just one example: a typically Nice facade, pretty pastel shutters... and behind it, walls perhaps too tired to continue holding up. The cause: worrying cracks not necessarily visible from the facade.
In response, the municipality is strengthening its control and security operations, often in connection with co-ownerships, but budgets are tight and emergency situations are too frequent.
What solutions?
Prevention in this area will involve these 4 points:
Better regular monitoring of old buildings
An incentive for renovation framed according to the rules of the art
Financial aid for fragile co-ownerships
A local or even national database on high-risk buildings
The recent evacuation in the Port of Nice district reminds us that architectural heritage can also be a danger if left unattended. Behind faded facades and colorful shutters, buildings sometimes lie on the verge of collapse. It's time to rethink our relationship with old buildings, not as a burden, but as a legacy to be maintained, so that they can continue to exist safely.
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