Zinc rooftops of Paris find new life as artworks
Customers can take home a piece of the capital’s iconic UNESCO-listed skyline
Each creation is made from Parisian rooftop material that is at least 50 years old
Raphaël Metivet and Isaure Lambert
A company in France is transforming zinc from the rooftops of Paris into artworks as a sustainable way of reusing the material, otherwise destined to be destroyed or sold off by weight.
Start-up Toit de Paris (Roof of Paris) was created by Constance Fichet-Schulz, who wanted to give the material a new lease of life while simultaneously honouring its history.
It was recently acquired by Bouches-du-Rhône-based company Oxysign, who now produce the works.
Read more: Montpellier, a cultural hub with historic universities and diverse museums
A tangible piece of Parisian heritage
“When I was a child, my parents brought me back a piece of the Berlin Wall,” she told The Connexion. “I was deeply moved to hold a small fragment of a city’s history in my hands. Years later, that memory inspired Toit de Paris.”
Each creation is made from Parisian rooftop zinc that is at least 50 years old. Most comes from the capital’s grand Haussmann-style buildings, built during the 19th Century.
The skills of the city’s zinc roofers were enshrined in 2024 on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage held by UNESCO, who estimate that almost 80% of Parisian roofs are zinc-covered.
The company works closely with local building firms that are renovating and replacing original zinc roofing.
“Each piece carries the unique patina and story of the roofs that shaped the city’s skyline,” said Ms Fichet-Schulz.
“(We are) turning historic material into a timeless keepsake.”
Artworks that reflect the city
The company’s best-selling product is the €59.95 Le Carré Parisien, showing a scene from one of the city’s 20 arrondissements selected by the customer and engraved on zinc.
The company sells “hundreds of pieces a month” said Ms Fichet-Schulz, adding that “demand keeps growing, especially around Christmas when our creations become popular gifts for Paris lovers”.
Other items made from the rooftop zinc include €19.95 keyrings, decorated with some of Paris’s most famous sights, as well as a €299 limited-edition tile created in collaboration with and signed by street artist C215.
It shows some of the capital’s best-known faces such as Victor Hugo, Charles Baudelaire and Arthur Rimbaud.
Where to buy
Items are sold worldwide via the Toit de Paris website. They are also stocked at select points in Paris, including the Eiffel Tower shop and the giftshops of the Musée Carnavalet and the Pavillon de l’Arsenal.
