The Luxembourg Gardens hold a special place in my heart. During my junior year abroad I had to cross the gardens on my way back and forth to the Rue Vavin every day, generally munching a croissant, in one direction, a chausson aux pommes in the other. The gardens are royal, the palace with its military guards is often the locus of art exhibitions, and are extremely well maintained. You can play tennis, or jog, or just take in the flowers and statuary on chairs and benches which are not fixed, moving them around as you like. There is never any trash on the ground.  Now, a temporary nursery by Djuric Tardio Architects built with the modular concepts of Jean Prouve has been built in the gardens apparently to accommodate children whose own nurseries are under construction by the city of Paris. Though this feels odd in the midst of this royal splendor, all credit must be given to the French for prioritizing 'creche's' as the day cares are known, as they always do. The French are protesting losing their benefits which far exceed those of the US but in this case even a royal garden is enjoined in the quest for making the working lives of families possible. The building will stay in the Gardens for two years and then be moved to the 13th arrondissement. It took 5 months to build and cost around 2 million euros. Vive la France.