La Défense is the prime high-rise office district of Paris. Many of Paris's tallest buildings can be found here.
La Défense
The Triumphal Way
At the end of the first World War, plans were made to develop
the axis from the Arc de
Triomphe at the Etoile to La Défense, an area at the edge of the center of Paris.
Numerous plans were submitted for the Voie Triumphale or Triumphal Way as it was known, most of them with endless rows of impressive skyscrapers in mostly Modernist style. Many of the plans which were submitted in 1930 came from renowned architects like Le Corbusier and Auguste Perret.
None of these plans were realized,
mainly due to the Great Depression in the 1930s.
Numerous plans were submitted for the Voie Triumphale or Triumphal Way as it was known, most of them with endless rows of impressive skyscrapers in mostly Modernist style. Many of the plans which were submitted in 1930 came from renowned architects like Le Corbusier and Auguste Perret.
Tour EDF
La Défense
In 1931 though, the authorities organized a new competition,
but the intent was to limit the height of the buildings
along the Triumphal Way. Only at the end of the long
avenue, at the Défense, were towers allowed. This
was recommended by the authorities as towers close to
the center would obstruct the view on the Etoile.
Most of the 35 (French) entries in the competition were either classical or modernist style, but again none of the plans were actually realized due to lack of funding. The main focus now moved from the Triumphal way to the Défense area, or La Défense. The name défense originates from the monument 'La
Défense
de Paris', which was erected at this site in 1883 to
commemorate the war of 1870.
Most of the 35 (French) entries in the competition were either classical or modernist style, but again none of the plans were actually realized due to lack of funding. The main focus now moved from the Triumphal way to the Défense area, or La Défense. The name défense originates from the monument 'La
Coeur Défense
A Forest of Towers
In 1951, the Défense site was chosen as an office center.
In 1958, development of the area was started by a special
agency, the Etablissement Public d'Aménagement de la
Défense.
The first plan had 2 rows of skyscrapers of equal height. In 1964, a plan was approved to have 20 office towers of 25 stories each. Little of the development on the Défence was actually built according to this plan, as most companies started to press for taller office towers.
The result is a mix of mostly cheap towers of different heights. The tallest of them, the GAN tower, measured 179 meters (589 ft).
The
height of several towers, and in particular the GAN
tower caused a public outcry as the 'forest of towers'
disturbs the view on the Arc
de Triomphe as seen from the Etoile.
Partly in response to this criticism a new monument was built at the entrance of the Défense as a counterweight for the Arc de Triomphe: The Tête Défense , also known as the Grande Arche de la Défense.
The first plan had 2 rows of skyscrapers of equal height. In 1964, a plan was approved to have 20 office towers of 25 stories each. Little of the development on the Défence was actually built according to this plan, as most companies started to press for taller office towers.
The result is a mix of mostly cheap towers of different heights. The tallest of them, the GAN tower, measured 179 meters (589 ft).
Défense Palace
Partly in response to this criticism a new monument was built at the entrance of the Défense as a counterweight for the Arc de Triomphe: The Tête Défense , also known as the Grande Arche de la Défense.
Grande Arche de la Défense
The project to build the 'Grande Arche' (Great Arch) was supported
by the French president Mitterrand who wanted a 20th
century version of the Arc de Triomphe. The design of Danish architect
Otto von Spreckelsen looks more like a cube-shaped building
than a triumphal arch. The 106 meters (348 ft) wide building
has a central archway. The sides of the cube
contain offices while the rooftop has a belvedere that until 2010 was open to visitors.
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