Paris installs algae-filled anti-pollution columns inspired by Morris columns

In Paris, a new anti-pollution device inspired by the iconic Morris columns has been installed in Place d'Alésia. Developed by Suez and startup Fermentalg, the column contains water and microalgae that absorb CO2 through photosynthesis, converting it into oxygen. The microalgae are harvested and transformed into biogas and biomethane to heat the city. The original Morris columns were introduced in 1868 by printer Gabriel Morris in response to a call from Baron Haussmann, and have since become symbols of Paris, featured in works by Marcel Proust, Eugène Atget, and Brassaï. They have also appeared at auction houses like Artcurial.