La Défense
Encyclopedia
La Défense is a major business district of the Paris aire urbaine. With a population of 20,000, it is centered in an orbital motorway straddling the Hauts-de-Seine
département municipalities of Nanterre
, Courbevoie
and Puteaux
. The district is at the westernmost extremity of Paris's 10 km long Historical Axis
, which starts at the Louvre
in Central Paris and continues along the Champs-Élysées
, well beyond the Arc de Triomphe
before culminating at La Défense.
Around its 110 metres (360.9 ft)-high Grande Arche
and esplanade
("le Parvis"), the district holds many of the Paris urban area's tallest high-rises. With its 77.5 acres (313,631.7 m²), its 72 glass-and-steel slick buildings including 14 high-rises above 150 metres (492.1 ft), its 180,000 daily workers and 3.5 million square metres (37.7 million sq ft) of office space, La Défense is Europe's largest purpose-built business district. La Défense is seen as comparable to Canary Wharf
in London: both are spaces where "statements of corporate ambition can be made", without thereby encroaching on the historical quarters of the city.
La Défense is named after the iconic statue La Défense de Paris, which was erected in 1883 to commemorate the soldiers who had defended Paris
during the Franco-Prussian War
.
In September 1958, The Public Establishment for Installation of La Défense (EPAD) buildings (of which the Esso Tower
was the very first) were built and began to slowly replace the city's factories, shanties, and even a few farms. The Center of New Industries and Technologies
(CNIT) was built and first used in 1958. These "first generation" skyscrapers were all very similar in appearance, limited to a height of 100 metres (328.1 ft). In 1966, the Nobel Tower was the first office building built in the area. In 1970 the RER line A
railway was opened from La Défense to Étoile
.
In 1974 a contract for a Défense-Cergy
high-speed hovercraft train
was signed and soon abandoned.
In the early 1970s, in response to great demand, a second generation of buildings began to appear, but the economic crisis in 1973 nearly halted all construction in the area. A third generation of towers began to appear in the early 1980s. The biggest commercial centre in Europe (at the time), the Quatre Temps, was created in 1981. In 1982, the EPAD launched the Tête Défense competition to find a monument to complete the Axe historique
, which eventually led to the construction of Grande Arche
at the west end of the quarter. During the same period, hotels were constructed, the CNIT was restructured, and in 1992 Line 1
of the Paris Métro
was extended to La Défense, which made the area readily accessible to even more of the city.
On Bastille Day
1990, French electronic composer Jean Michel Jarre
staged an ambitious concert at the site, using the Grande Arche and three of the area's towers as projection screens, and building a pyramidal stage above the road. The free concert, titled simply Paris la Defense
attracted two million spectators, stretching all the way back to the Arc de Triomphe
. This beat Jarre's own previous world record for the largest attendance for a musical concert.
After a stagnation in new development in the mid-1990s La Défense is once again expanding and is now the largest purpose-built business district in Europe.
Important corporations headquartered at La Défense include Neuf Cegetel
, Société Générale
, Total
, Aventis
, Areva
and Arcelor
. The tallest skyscraper, the Tour First belongs to AXA
, constructed in 1974. It is 231 metres (757.9 ft) high, has 50 floors, and is the highest inhabited building in the Paris area (a title previously held by the Tour Montparnasse
, which was the tallest inhabited building until the Tour First was renovated between 2007 and 2011, bringing it to its current height from a previous 159 metres (521.7 ft); the tallest building in Paris is the Eiffel Tower
).
On 9 September 2008, La Défense celebrated its 50th birthday with a huge fireworks
display.
In December 2005, Bernard Bled, CEO & Chairman of EPAD (La Defense Management & Development Office) announced an ambitious 9-year development plan called "La Defense 2006–2015".This important modernisation plan has to give a new dimension to the district and focuses on four main axes: regenerate outdated skyscrapers, allow new buildings, improve the balance between offices and residential housing and make the transport of local employees from their homes to La Défense easier.
There are 3 aims: building 150 000 square metres (1 600 000 sq ft) of offices within demolition/rebuilding projects, building 300 000 square metres (3 200 000 sq ft) of offices within new projects and building 100 000 square metres ( 1 100 000 sq ft) of housing.
The government confirmed in July 2006 this plan which has to be carried out around 2015. It is justified by the strong estate pressure, which plays in favour of building new skyscrapers near Paris. Those constructions have also the advantage to be more economical than little buildings. But it will have to overcome some difficulties: French economy faces a short-term slowdown; the government tries to balance tertiary sector employment in the whole region again, because La Défense today concentrates a major part of those jobs; and traffic is already saturated in the district, while it would need huge investments to extend transport infrastructures.
It launched high profile international competitions and/or construction greenlight of several key 300 to 320 m (984.3 to 1,049.9 ft) tall sustainable development-style skyscrapers such as Tour Signal
, Tour Phare, Hermitage Plaza and Tour Generali
. During said December 2005 Press Conference, EPAD released to the public an elaborate 3D animation film titled "La Défense 2015".
, Calder
, Takis
, Mitoraj, Venet, Agam
, a piece of the Berlin Wall
, Philolaos, Moretti
, César
and others
Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine is designated number 92 of the 101 départements in France. It is part of the Île-de-France region, and covers the western inner suburbs of Paris...
département municipalities of Nanterre
Nanterre
Nanterre is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located west of the center of Paris.Nanterre is the capital of the Hauts-de-Seine department as well as the seat of the Arrondissement of Nanterre....
, Courbevoie
Courbevoie
Courbevoie is a commune located very close to the centre of Paris, France. The centre of Courbevoie is situated 2 kilometres from the outer limits of Paris and 8.2 km...
and Puteaux
Puteaux
Puteaux is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located in the heart of the Hauts-de-Seine department from the center of Paris....
. The district is at the westernmost extremity of Paris's 10 km long Historical Axis
Axe historique
The Axe historique is a line of monuments, buildings and thoroughfares that extends from the centre of Paris, France, to the west. It is also known as the "Voie Triomphale" ....
, which starts at the Louvre
Louvre
The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...
in Central Paris and continues along the Champs-Élysées
Champs-Élysées
The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is a prestigious avenue in Paris, France. With its cinemas, cafés, luxury specialty shops and clipped horse-chestnut trees, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous streets and one of the most expensive strip of real estate in the world. The name is...
, well beyond the Arc de Triomphe
Arc de Triomphe
-The design:The astylar design is by Jean Chalgrin , in the Neoclassical version of ancient Roman architecture . Major academic sculptors of France are represented in the sculpture of the Arc de Triomphe: Jean-Pierre Cortot; François Rude; Antoine Étex; James Pradier and Philippe Joseph Henri Lemaire...
before culminating at La Défense.
Around its 110 metres (360.9 ft)-high Grande Arche
Grande Arche
La Grande Arche de la Défense is a monument and building in the business district of La Défense and in the commune of Puteaux, to the west of Paris, France...
and esplanade
Esplanade
An esplanade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The original meaning of esplanade was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide clear fields of fire for the fortress' guns...
("le Parvis"), the district holds many of the Paris urban area's tallest high-rises. With its 77.5 acres (313,631.7 m²), its 72 glass-and-steel slick buildings including 14 high-rises above 150 metres (492.1 ft), its 180,000 daily workers and 3.5 million square metres (37.7 million sq ft) of office space, La Défense is Europe's largest purpose-built business district. La Défense is seen as comparable to Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is a major business district located in London, United Kingdom. It is one of London's two main financial centres, alongside the traditional City of London, and contains many of the UK's tallest buildings, including the second-tallest , One Canada Square...
in London: both are spaces where "statements of corporate ambition can be made", without thereby encroaching on the historical quarters of the city.
History
Siege of Paris
The Siege of Paris, lasting from September 19, 1870 – January 28, 1871, and the consequent capture of the city by Prussian forces led to French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and the establishment of the German Empire as well as the Paris Commune....
during the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
.
In September 1958, The Public Establishment for Installation of La Défense (EPAD) buildings (of which the Esso Tower
Esso Tower
The Esso Tower was one of the first buildings built in La Défense in the 1960s. It was demolished in 1993 to be replaced by the Cœur Défense tower.-A pioneer of La Défense:...
was the very first) were built and began to slowly replace the city's factories, shanties, and even a few farms. The Center of New Industries and Technologies
Center of New Industries and Technologies
The Center of New Industries and Technologies , located in Puteaux, France, is one of the first buildings built in La Défense in Paris, France...
(CNIT) was built and first used in 1958. These "first generation" skyscrapers were all very similar in appearance, limited to a height of 100 metres (328.1 ft). In 1966, the Nobel Tower was the first office building built in the area. In 1970 the RER line A
RER A
The RER A is one of the five lines in the RER rapid transit system serving :Paris, France.The line runs from the western terminuses Saint-Germain-en-Laye , Cergy Le Haut , and Poissy to the eastern terminuses Boissy-Saint-Léger and Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy .* First inauguration: 12 December 1969*...
railway was opened from La Défense to Étoile
Charles de Gaulle - Étoile (Paris Metro and RER)
Charles de Gaulle – Étoile is a station on Paris Métro Line 1 and of the RER urban rail network. It lies on the boundary of the VIIIe and XVIIe arrondissements of Paris...
.
In 1974 a contract for a Défense-Cergy
Cergy
Cergy is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris, in the "new town" of Cergy-Pontoise, created in the 1960s, of which it is the central and most populated commune....
high-speed hovercraft train
Aérotrain
The Aérotrain was a Hovertrain developed in France from 1965 to 1977. The lead engineer was Jean Bertin.The goal of the Aérotrain was similar to that of the magnetic levitation train: to suspend the train above the tracks so the only resistance is that of air resistance...
was signed and soon abandoned.
In the early 1970s, in response to great demand, a second generation of buildings began to appear, but the economic crisis in 1973 nearly halted all construction in the area. A third generation of towers began to appear in the early 1980s. The biggest commercial centre in Europe (at the time), the Quatre Temps, was created in 1981. In 1982, the EPAD launched the Tête Défense competition to find a monument to complete the Axe historique
Axe historique
The Axe historique is a line of monuments, buildings and thoroughfares that extends from the centre of Paris, France, to the west. It is also known as the "Voie Triomphale" ....
, which eventually led to the construction of Grande Arche
Grande Arche
La Grande Arche de la Défense is a monument and building in the business district of La Défense and in the commune of Puteaux, to the west of Paris, France...
at the west end of the quarter. During the same period, hotels were constructed, the CNIT was restructured, and in 1992 Line 1
Paris Metro Line 1
Paris Métro Line 1 is one of the sixteen lines composing the Paris Métro . It connects the La Défense – Grande Arche and Château de Vincennes stations. With a 16.5 km length, it constitutes an "East-West" route transportation important for the City of Paris...
of the Paris Métro
Paris Métro
The Paris Métro or Métropolitain is the rapid transit metro system in Paris, France. It has become a symbol of the city, noted for its density within the city limits and its uniform architecture influenced by Art Nouveau. The network's sixteen lines are mostly underground and run to 214 km ...
was extended to La Défense, which made the area readily accessible to even more of the city.
Bastille Day
Bastille Day is the name given in English-speaking countries to the French National Day, which is celebrated on 14 July of each year. In France, it is formally called La Fête Nationale and commonly le quatorze juillet...
1990, French electronic composer Jean Michel Jarre
Jean Michel Jarre
Jean Michel André Jarre is a French composer, performer and music producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient and New Age genres, and known as an organiser of outdoor spectacles of his music featuring lights, laser displays, and fireworks.Jarre was raised in Lyon by his mother and...
staged an ambitious concert at the site, using the Grande Arche and three of the area's towers as projection screens, and building a pyramidal stage above the road. The free concert, titled simply Paris la Defense
Paris la Defense
Paris La Defense - Une Ville En Concert was a concert held by musician Jean Michel Jarre on the district of La Défense in Paris on Bastille Day, July 14, 1990. About 2.5 million people standing in front of the pyramidical stage all the way down to the Arc de Triomphe witnessed this event, setting a...
attracted two million spectators, stretching all the way back to the Arc de Triomphe
Arc de Triomphe
-The design:The astylar design is by Jean Chalgrin , in the Neoclassical version of ancient Roman architecture . Major academic sculptors of France are represented in the sculpture of the Arc de Triomphe: Jean-Pierre Cortot; François Rude; Antoine Étex; James Pradier and Philippe Joseph Henri Lemaire...
. This beat Jarre's own previous world record for the largest attendance for a musical concert.
After a stagnation in new development in the mid-1990s La Défense is once again expanding and is now the largest purpose-built business district in Europe.
Important corporations headquartered at La Défense include Neuf Cegetel
Neuf Cegetel
Neuf Cegetel is a French wireline telecom services provider and a mobile virtual network operator offering different services to consumers, enterprises and wholesale customers, ranking number two in the country...
, Société Générale
Société Générale
Société Générale S.A. is a large European Bank and a major Financial Services company that has a substantial global presence. Its registered office is on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, while its head office is in the Tours Société Générale in the business district of La...
, Total
Total S.A.
Total S.A. is a French multinational oil company and one of the six "Supermajor" oil companies in the world.Its businesses cover the entire oil and gas chain, from crude oil and natural gas exploration and production to power generation, transportation, refining, petroleum product marketing, and...
, Aventis
Aventis
Aventis was a pharmaceutical and lab assay testing company. It was formed in 1999 when Rhône-Poulenc S.A. merged with Hoechst AG. The merged company was based in Strasbourg, France. With its headquarters in Strasbourg, Aventis was the product of the first transnational merger to combine large...
, Areva
Areva
AREVA is a French public multinational industrial conglomerate headquartered in the Tour Areva in Courbevoie, Paris. AREVA is mainly known for nuclear power; it also has interests in other energy projects. It was created on 3 September 2001, by the merger of Framatome , Cogema and...
and Arcelor
Arcelor
Arcelor S.A. was the world's largest steel producer in terms of turnover and the second largest in terms of steel output, with a turnover of €30.2 billion and shipments of 45 million metric tons of steel in 2004...
. The tallest skyscraper, the Tour First belongs to AXA
AXA
AXA S.A. is a French global insurance group headquartered in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. AXA is a conglomerate of independently run businesses, operated according to the laws and regulations of many different countries. The AXA group of companies engage in life, health and other forms of...
, constructed in 1974. It is 231 metres (757.9 ft) high, has 50 floors, and is the highest inhabited building in the Paris area (a title previously held by the Tour Montparnasse
Tour Montparnasse
Tour Maine-Montparnasse , also commonly named Tour Montparnasse, is a tall office skyscraper located in Paris, France, in the area of Montparnasse. Constructed from 1969 to 1972, it was the tallest skyscraper in France until 2011, when it was surpassed in height by the Tour First...
, which was the tallest inhabited building until the Tour First was renovated between 2007 and 2011, bringing it to its current height from a previous 159 metres (521.7 ft); the tallest building in Paris is the Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...
).
On 9 September 2008, La Défense celebrated its 50th birthday with a huge fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
display.
In December 2005, Bernard Bled, CEO & Chairman of EPAD (La Defense Management & Development Office) announced an ambitious 9-year development plan called "La Defense 2006–2015".This important modernisation plan has to give a new dimension to the district and focuses on four main axes: regenerate outdated skyscrapers, allow new buildings, improve the balance between offices and residential housing and make the transport of local employees from their homes to La Défense easier.
There are 3 aims: building 150 000 square metres (1 600 000 sq ft) of offices within demolition/rebuilding projects, building 300 000 square metres (3 200 000 sq ft) of offices within new projects and building 100 000 square metres ( 1 100 000 sq ft) of housing.
The government confirmed in July 2006 this plan which has to be carried out around 2015. It is justified by the strong estate pressure, which plays in favour of building new skyscrapers near Paris. Those constructions have also the advantage to be more economical than little buildings. But it will have to overcome some difficulties: French economy faces a short-term slowdown; the government tries to balance tertiary sector employment in the whole region again, because La Défense today concentrates a major part of those jobs; and traffic is already saturated in the district, while it would need huge investments to extend transport infrastructures.
It launched high profile international competitions and/or construction greenlight of several key 300 to 320 m (984.3 to 1,049.9 ft) tall sustainable development-style skyscrapers such as Tour Signal
Tour Signal
Tour Signal was a proposed skyscraper in La Défense and in Puteaux, France.Medea and Layetana were the developers with Ateliers Jean Nouvel as architects....
, Tour Phare, Hermitage Plaza and Tour Generali
Tour Generali
Tour Generali is a skyscraper planned for construction in the business quarter of La Défense in Courbevoie...
. During said December 2005 Press Conference, EPAD released to the public an elaborate 3D animation film titled "La Défense 2015".
Area specifications
- Divided into 12 sectors of offices
- 1,500 businesses (of which 14 from the national top 20 and 15 from the global top 50)
- 150,000 employees
- 20,000 residents of shops (including the 120000 square metres (1,291,669.3 sq ft) Quatre Temps Shopping Mall, the largest in Continental Europe)
- 2,600 hotel rooms of flagstone and sidewalk of greenery
- 60 modern art sculptures and monuments
Completed highrise buildings above 90 m (300 ft) (1967–2008)
| Rank | Name | Built | Use | Height | Levels | Municipality | |
| metres | feet | ||||||
| 1 | Tour First (ex AXA, ex Assur) | 1974/2010 | office | 231 | 787 | 55 | Courbevoie Courbevoie Courbevoie is a commune located very close to the centre of Paris, France. The centre of Courbevoie is situated 2 kilometres from the outer limits of Paris and 8.2 km... |
| 2 | Tour Total Tour Total Tour Total is an office skyscraper located in La Défense, Courbevoie, the high-rise business district west of and adjacent to the city of Paris, France designed in the Modern architectural style... |
1985 | office | 187 | 614 | 48 | Courbevoie |
| 3 | Tour T1 Tour T1 Tour T1 is an office skyscraper in La Défense, the high-rise business district west of Paris, France.The tower was completed and opened in 2008. The tower, 185 m tall, is the second-tallest skyscraper in La Défense after the Tour Total.- See also :... (GDF Suez) |
2008 | office | 185 | 610 | 37 | Courbevoie |
| 4 | Tour Areva Tour Areva Tour Areva is an office skyscraper located in La Défense, a high-rise business district, and in the commune of Courbevoie, France, west of Paris.... |
1974 | office | 184 | 607 | 44 | Courbevoie |
| 5 | Tour Granite Tour Granite Tour Granite is an office skyscraper in La Défense, the high-rise business district situated west of Paris, France.Tour Granite was opened in December 2008. The building is designed by French architect Christian de Portzamparc. It is the fourth tallest building in la Défense, after Tour Total, Tour... (Société Générale) |
2008 | office | 183 | 603 | 37 | Nanterre Nanterre Nanterre is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located west of the center of Paris.Nanterre is the capital of the Hauts-de-Seine department as well as the seat of the Arrondissement of Nanterre.... |
| 6 | Tour Gan Tour Gan Tour Gan is an office skyscraper located in La Défense, the high-rise business district situated west of Paris, France. It was designed by celebrated American architect Max Abramovitz.... |
1974 | office | 179 | 587 | 42 | Courbevoie |
| 7 | Tour Alicante (Société Générale) | 1995 | office | 167 | 548 | 37 | Nanterre |
| Tour Chassagne (Société Générale) | 1995 | office | 167 | 548 | 37 | Nanterre | |
| 9 | Tour EDF Tour EDF Tour EDF is an office skyscraper located in La Défense, the high-rise business district west of Paris, France.The tower was built for Électricité de France , France's main electricity company, and hosts company's offices. Tour EDF is 165 m tall, the tallest skyscraper built in La Défense since the... |
2001 | office | 165 | 541 | 41 | Puteaux Puteaux Puteaux is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located in the heart of the Hauts-de-Seine department from the center of Paris.... |
| 10 | Cœur Défense Cœur Défense Cœur Défense is an office skyscraper in La Défense, the high-rise business district west of Paris, France. With 350,000 m² , it is the building with the most floor space in Europe along with the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest.... |
2001 | office | 161 | 528 | 40 | Courbevoie |
| 11 | Tour Adria Tour Adria Tour Adria is an office skyscraper located in La Défense, the high-rise business district situated west of Paris, France. It has a triangular floorplan.... (Technip) |
2002 | office | 155 | 509 | 40 | Courbevoie |
| Tour Égée Tour Égée Tour Égée is an office skyscraper located in La Défense, the high-rise business district situated west of Paris, France.... (Ernst&Young) |
1999 | office | 155 | 509 | 40 | Courbevoie | |
| 13 | Tour Ariane Tour Ariane Tour Ariane is an office skyscraper located in La Défense, the high-rise business district situated west of Paris, France.... |
1975 | office | 152 | 499 | 36 | Puteaux |
| 14 | Tour CBX Tour CBX Tour CBX or Tour Dexia is an office skyscraper located in Supercomplex 2 of the La Défense business district situated west of Paris, France.... |
2005 | office | 142 | 466 | 36 | Courbevoie |
| 15 | Tour Défense 2000 Tour Défense 2000 The Tour Défense 2000 is one of the taller dwellings in France. The tower is situated in the La Défense section of Puteaux, a suburb of Paris.... |
1974 | residential | 136 | 446 | 46 | Puteaux |
| 16 | Tour Europlaza Tour Europlaza Tour Europlaza is an office skyscraper located in La Défense business district situated west of Paris, France.... |
1995 | office | 135 | 443 | 31 | Courbevoie |
| 17 | Tour Descartes Tour Descartes Tour Descartes is an office skyscraper located in La Défense business district situated west of Paris, France.... (IBM) |
1988 | office | 130 | 427 | 40 | Courbevoie |
| 18 | Tour Les Poissons Tour Les Poissons Tour Les Poissons is a skyscraper of mixed use, both residential and commercial, located west of Paris, France, in Courbevoie, near La Défense business district.... |
1970 | mixed | 128 | 420 | 42 | Courbevoie |
| 19 | Tour France Tour France Tour France is a residential skyscraper located in La Défense business district and in Puteaux, France, west of Paris.Built in 1973, the tower is with a height of 126 meters one of the tallest residential towers in France. The tower is located on the banks of the Seine and offers a wonderful... |
1973 | residential | 126 | 413 | 40 | Puteaux |
| 20 | Tour Franklin Tour Franklin Tour Franklin is an office skyscraper located in La Défense business district situated west of Paris, France.Built in 1972, the tower of 120 meters of height belongs to the second generation of skyscrapers in La Défense. Its design consists actually in the merger of a smaller tower in a larger one.... |
1972 | office | 120 | 394 | 33 | Puteaux |
| 21 | Tour Sequoia Tour Sequoia Tour Sequoia is an office skyscraper located in La Défense business district just west of Paris, France.... (Bull, Cegetel, SFR) |
1990 | office | 119 | 390 | 33 | Puteaux |
| Tour Winterthur | 1973 | office | 119 | 390 | 33 | Puteaux | |
| 23 | Tour Michelet (Total) | 1985 | office | 117 | 384 | 34 | Puteaux |
| Tour CB16 | 2003 | office | 90 | 295 | 27 | Courbevoie | |
| 25 | Tour Neptune | 1972 | office | 113 | 371 | 28 | Courbevoie |
| Préfecture des Hauts-de-Seine Préfecture des Hauts-de-Seine The Préfecture des Hauts-de-Seine is an administrative building located in Nanterre, in the inner suburbs of Paris, France.Hosting specifically the administrative offices of the préfecture of the Hauts-de-Seine département, the building is made of a wide basis above which is built a 113 meters tall... |
1974 | office | 113 | 371 | 25 | Nanterre | |
| 27 | Grande Arche Grande Arche La Grande Arche de la Défense is a monument and building in the business district of La Défense and in the commune of Puteaux, to the west of Paris, France... |
1989 | monument, office | 110 | 361 | 37 | Puteaux |
| Tour Manhattan | 1975 | office | 110 | 361 | 32 | Courbevoie | |
| Tour Aurore Tour Aurore Tour Aurore is a 100-metre, 29-story office building in the La Defense central business district. It was constructed in 1970 and will be dismantled in 2010 to make way for Tour Air2.... |
1970 | office | 110 | 361 | 29 | Courbevoie | |
| 30 | Tour Eve | 1975 | mixed | 109 | 358 | 30 | Puteaux |
| Tour Initiale Tour Initiale Tour Initiale is an office building located in La Défense business district just west of Paris, France. The 105 m Tour Initiale was the first office tower built in the La Défense district with its construction being completed in 1966... |
1967 | office | 109 | 358 | 30 | Puteaux | |
| 32 | Tour Nuage 1, Tours Aillaud Tours Aillaud The Tours Aillaud is a group of residential buildings located in Nanterre, in the inner suburbs of Paris, France.... |
1976 | residential | 105 | 344 | 39 | Nanterre |
| Tour Nuage 2, Tours Aillaud | 1976 | residential | 105 | 344 | 39 | Nanterre | |
| 34 | Tour Gambetta | 1975 | residential | 104 | 341 | 37 | Courbevoie |
| 35 | Tour Cèdre | 1998 | office | 103 | 338 | 26 | Courbevoie |
| 36 | Tour Opus12 | 1973 | office | 100 | 328 | 27 | Puteaux |
| Tour Athéna | 1984 | office | 100 | 328 | 25 | Puteaux | |
| 38 | Tour Europe | 1969 | office | 99 | 325 | 28 | Courbevoie |
| Tour AIG | 1967 | office | 99 | 325 | 27 | Courbevoie | |
| 40 | Tour Prisma (Tour Kvaerner) | 1998 | office | 97 | 318 | 25 | Courbevoie |
| 41 | Tour Atlantique | 1970 | office | 95 | 312 | 27 | Puteaux |
| Tour Pascal | 1983 | office | 95 | 312 | 27 | Puteaux | |
| 43 | Tour Pacific | 1992 | office | 90 | 295 | 25 | Puteaux |
Upcoming highrise buildings (2010–2016)
| Name | Use | Height | Levels | Municipality | Status (2008) | Estimated Year of Completion | |
| metres | feet | ||||||
| Hermitage Plaza II | mix | 323 | 1,060 | 93 | Courbevoie | approved | 2016 |
| Hermitage Plaza I | mix | 323 | 1,060 | 91 | Courbevoie | approved | 2016 |
| Tour Phare | office | 297 | 974 | 68 | Courbevoie | approved | 2016 |
| Tour Generali Tour Generali Tour Generali is a skyscraper planned for construction in the business quarter of La Défense in Courbevoie... |
office | 265 | 869 | 50 | Courbevoie | cancelled | 2014 |
| Tour Air² | office | 202 | 720 | 43 | Courbevoie | approved | 2014 |
| Tour Majunga | office | 193 | 591 | 42 | Puteaux | under construction | 2012 |
| Tour D2 Tour D2 The Tour D2 is a 171m building being constructed in Paris at the moment.*List of tallest buildings and structures in the Paris region... |
office | 171 | 574 | 37 | Courbevoie | under construction | 2013 |
| Tour Carpe Diem Tour Carpe Diem The Tour Carpe Diem is a tall skyscraper proposed for the La Défense district of France. If constructed, it will be in the municipality of Courbevoie and will be used for office purposes.*Structural type: highrise... |
office | 166 | 525 | 32 | Courbevoie | under construction | 2012 |
| Tour AVA | office | 143 | 459 | 34 | Courbevoie | approved | 2013 |
| Hôtel Méridien La Défense | hotel | 87 | 285 | 23 | Courbevoie | approved | ? |
Open-air museum
Besides the representative architecture, the area also houses around sixty statues and pieces of modern art including works of Joan MiróJoan Miró
Joan Miró i Ferrà was a Spanish Catalan painter, sculptor, and ceramicist born in Barcelona.Earning international acclaim, his work has been interpreted as Surrealism, a sandbox for the subconscious mind, a re-creation of the childlike, and a manifestation of Catalan pride...
, Calder
Calder
-Places:*Several rivers in Scotland and Northern England*East Calder, Mid Calder and West Calder, three villages in West Lothian, Scotland*Calder, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, a town on the island of Saint Vincent...
, Takis
Takis
Vassilakis Takis is an artist living in Greece. Adopted by France, his works can be found in many public locations in and around Paris.-Life and work:1940–1950...
, Mitoraj, Venet, Agam
Agam
Agam may refer to:* Āgama , a collection scriptures* Jain Agamas, texts of Jainism* Agam Regency, a regency of West Sumatra, Indonesia* Yaacov Agam, an Israeli artist* AGAM, the Israeli Defence Forces Directorate of Operations- See also :...
, a piece of the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
, Philolaos, Moretti
Moretti
Moretti may refer to:20th most common surname in Italy.-People:*Bob Moretti , Californian politician*Bruno Moretti, Italian composer and frequent collaborator with choreographer Mauro Bigonzetti....
, César
César
Cesar Lacbu Nucum , better known as Kuya Cesar, was a Filipino radio personality. He was also known as "Speed Begal".-Early life:...
and others
External links
- Satellite image from Google Maps Site officiel de l'EPAD (Établissement Public pour l'Aménagement de la Défense) Connecting-Paris, web site created by the Chamber of commerce and industry of Paris to help companies setting up in La Defense Les bâtiments de la Défense Structurae: Structural engineering and architecture guide to Paris-La Défense
- Défense Network