Driven by a feeling of helplessness, Paris’ work reacts to the current climate emergency. Here To Utopia imagines the conversion of a decommissioned gas silo into an alternative housing development led by Extinction Rebellion to present a self-sufficient, eco-friendly, part community build neighbourhood. The project locally addresses issues surrounding the climate emergency, recognising individuals can make a difference.

Located in Kensal Rise, London, the project explores themes of sustainability by repurposing discarded items; implementing self-sustainable technologies; and creating a community that shares knowledge, resources and time.

Due to the previous industrial use, the site is contaminated and as an architectural response, nothing will touch the landscape. Two skeletal frames of the gasometers remain on site and are converted to support the development. The architecture has the possibility to grow as the community does. Themes of transparency, plurality and adaptability influence the architectural form. Paris was inspired by utopian theorist Elisabeth Grosz, who believes that realised utopias are not ideal but real places, where daily practice consists of finding ways in which people can collaborate, reassess, and strive for something better. Therefore, the community’s architecture promotes change over time to encourage unrealised potential that cannot be planned.