New skyscraper in La Défense, revealed last week:

Tour Air²

43 floors
Height: 200-220 m (650-700 ft)
Floor space: 75,000 m² (800,000 sq. ft)
Architects: Arquitectonica & Arte Charpentier
Developers : Bouygues Immobilier / Meunier

http://www.defense-92.fr/photos/ph2239.jpg

http://www.defense-92.fr/photos/ph2338.jpg

http://www.defense-92.fr/photos/ph2340.jpg

http://grrroux.free.fr/misc/new_aurore2.JPG

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/5153/air22qh5.jpg

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/8690/air21lk6.jpg

Great news and great design! :cheers:

Good one for paris!

not only for Paris but for whole Europe....:cheers:

It's hard to see detals in the renders,so I can't say if I like it or not,but at least the name sounds nice!

looks like there are lots of weird looking buildings comming up in La Défence lately. and i love them!!

the skyline of La Défence will look very different soon :happy:

New rendering:

http://grrroux.free.fr/misc/air.JPG

IMO better tha generali and phare

I just wonder if it's going to be very cool or very plain...cladding looks like...very uniform and grey...

http://grrroux.free.fr/misc/air2_look.JPG
http://grrroux.free.fr/misc/air2_loc.JPG

Pas mal!
:okay:

i am loving it :D

Quite a 'clam' design compared to some of the stuff proposed for La Defense yet at the same time rather striking. Not your average box, yet not too out of place like some of the other proposals. Wouldn't look out of place in a city like Toronto. Probably my favourite proposal for Paris so far.

IMO better tha generali and phare

Agreed

It's a nice building from some angles,and from other ones it doesn't look so good.Overall,it's a good project!

Interesting shape, nice height for La Défense :)

Nice addition for La Défense.

Good one, we need the better renderings

I love this tower:)

The new Tour Air2 will replace the Tour Aurore, built in 1970 and last renovated in 2003. I don't know if we can tear down a building that had a recent reconstruction.

And why couldn't we ?

Another one in Défense! Great

I quite like the leaning facade, also have realised how "messy" is the top and it makes this design even cooler :)

fantastic building
very happy to see LA DEFENSE waking up

The new Tour Air2 will replace the Tour Aurore, built in 1970 and last renovated in 2003. I don't know if we can tear down a building that had a recent reconstruction.
It weren't a reconstrution but a renovation of security element.
Tour Aurore:
http://www.insecula.com/Photos/00/00/06/42/ME0000064244_2.JPG

fantastic building
very happy to see LA DEFENSE waking up

it's never been asleep

^^ Thank you for clarifying it.

La Défense knew a "slowdown" in the early to mid 90's due to an unfavourable economical context, but this is relative since 3 towers were built between 1992 and 1995.

Then, since 1998 it's 8 towers that have been delivered plus 2 others currently under construction plus many smaller offices built during this period...

So I don't really see from when it should be waking up :dunno:

Some news and some new renderings. The construction of Air² Tower has been confirmed in the French press. Apparently The Carlyle Group is currently negotiating the acquisition of this tower from Bouygues Immobilier. The tower will be completed and delivered in 2012. Someone should change the tag on top of the thread to "App".

http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/0710090900091369859.jpg

http://grrroux.free.fr/misc/real2.JPG

Better screenshot.

http://grrroux.free.fr/misc/real3.jpg

I like it. nothing too extravagant.

If Generali is 318 meters on its left, then Air2 is more like 290/300-ish on the photographed model...

double post.

^^ Thank you for clarifying it.

La Défense knew a "slowdown" in the early to mid 90's due to an unfavourable economical context, but this is relative since 3 towers were built between 1992 and 1995.

Then, since 1998 it's 8 towers that have been delivered plus 2 others currently under construction plus many smaller offices built during this period...

So I don't really see from when it should be waking up :dunno:It's true that constructions of new towers have never really stopped. However, the first tower around 180/190 meters to be built was Areva in 1974 and the new towers which have been built since then have often matched that limit, but never exceeded it. My own interpretation of La Défense "wake up" is that towers of another height category are getting planned.

Damn', there's a 240-meter tower currently under construction at the forefront of LD (CB31 aka AXA), and it will be only the first one of a long serie. Let's celebrate this!

:cheers:

^^ yeah, let's celebrate :cheers1:

there are a lot of good and daring designs in Paris. Even though a lot of people will need some time to become accustomed to some of the new towers. In a few years -- or more likely decades -- they will be an extencial part of Paris as the Eiffel tower is today :)

The Tour Air2 proposal screws up the La Defense 2 Supercomplex and the boxy buildings that are part of it, such as EDF-GDF. I think it needs to be cancelled.

Actually Air² tower is approved.

Why is the Tour Aurore going to be demolished?

Great project for a beautiful city of our neighbor country

Can anyone confirm that Carlyle closed the deal with Bouygues/Meunier and how much that Carlyle paid? thanks

The Tour Air2 proposal screws up the La Defense 2 Supercomplex and the boxy buildings that are part of it, such as EDF-GDF. I think it needs to be cancelled.

Really? I personally like it, more than Generali and Phare. It is a very nice looking tower, and I think it will fit great in La Defense. I would really like something like this in Canary Wharf.

Is now approved? Nice! It has an interesant shape, quite strange, but cool. Depending the angle, you could see a different kind of tower, and I like that ;)

As of now, the only building to have been demolished in La Defense is the Immeuble Esso building. It lived from 1965-1993. It stood on the current site of the Coeur Defense office complex. Besides Tour Aurore, what other buildings in La Defense are planning to go to be with the Lord? (this is just another slang of a building being demolished.)

The tower Aurore (110 m, 27 fl) is the most important building concerned by a destruction but there are other destruction program in La défense.

First the Tetris has just been destroyed and the construction of the new Praetorium are beginning.

http://www.defense-92.fr/photos/ph2892.jpg
http://www.ladefense.fr/images/dynamic/projets/proetorium.jpg

The Building Iris who would be replaced by the Generali Tower (300 m)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Iris_la_D%C3%A9fense.JPG/800px-Iris_la_D%C3%A9fense.JPG

The Tower Veritas (8 floors) who would be replaced by the D2 tower (160 m)
http://www.ladefense.fr/images/visite/batiment/18.jpg

The Building France Telecom-Orange (8 floors) who would be replaced by The Carpe Diem Tower (166 m)
http://www.ladefense.fr/images/visite/batiment/51.jpg

And the complex Arkema and Michelet (7 and 14 floors) who could be replaced by the PB 22 towers
http://www.ladefense.fr/images/visite/batiment/72.jpg
http://www.defense-92.fr/photos/pb22visu1.jpg

Tour Air² is approved and its heigh is 220m

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Grf.jpg

[...]
And the complex Arkema and Michelet (7 and 14 floors) who could be replaced by the PB 22 towers
http://www.ladefense.fr/images/visite/batiment/72.jpg
http://www.defense-92.fr/photos/pb22visu1.jpg

There was a proposal by Philippe Chiambaretta for Tour Signal that looked exactly the same like this... :dunno:

^^
Yes.
This project was in study before and Chiambaretta with La Foncière des régions proposed it for the Signal tower.
Now we don't know if towers will be realise but it could be.

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/6135/air2diaponuitus0.jpg

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/3755/air2diapolobbykc8.jpg

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/2292/air2diapoesplanadeod6.jpg

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/8966/air2diapopiedyd5.jpg

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/4492/air2diapovueextcr0.jpg
Arquitectonica
http://www.bouygues-immobilier.com/jahia/Jahia/corporate/liste_de_projets_IE/air2_diaporama?page=1&image=5

Height is 220m
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2273/2343943114_06998fa649_o.jpg
(from Cyril)

The tower is approved and the demolition of Aurore building will beguin in 2011 if everything is ok.

http://www.akidarchitecte.fr/arq_projets.html

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4872472752_885533e9a7.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4872474304_f651146dac.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4871865545_2157c18356.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4871867063_3bd5332388.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4871866723_b171f9a0af.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4872473182_c8a2f9e2fe.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4871865893_3dc89b700d.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4872473996_39ee6d598e.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4871866331_1e200c52c9.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4871866051_ce7a31b0c9.jpg

New rendering:
http://arquitectonica.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files_mf/1.00.312.55.1pil.jpg

http://www.cyberbtp.com/images/articles/13460_02_d.jpghttp://www.cyberbtp.com/images/articles/13460_04_d.jpg
http://www.cyberbtp.com/images/articles/13460_01_d.jpghttp://www.cyberbtp.com/images/articles/13460_03_d.jpg
^^Taken at the MIPIM 2010

http://a.imageshack.us/img7/6587/air2d.jpg

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/download?mid=3325f8ec2112a02111753ac2f6353f93&rtyp=swivel&setnum=0&imagenum=5http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/download?mid=3325f8ec2112a02111753ac2f6353f93&rtyp=swivel&setnum=0&imagenum=21http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/download?mid=3325f8ec2112a02111753ac2f6353f93&rtyp=swivel&setnum=0&imagenum=1

Work to start mid 2011 apparently. Furthemore, Air2's height appears to have been scaled down to 202m.

Very nice pics taken today in Dubaï by 234sale (moderator from the UAE section) :

http://i52.tinypic.com/xli5au.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/2dsg65y.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/246kz8z.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/f2vwgi.jpg

http://i52.tinypic.com/73e9tl.jpg

Many thanks to 234sale once again!:)

This is what Eric Sasson (Carlyle Director) said yesterday in Paris at the SIMI show (investors meeting organised by the Epadesa which runs la Défense):

Eric Sasson, nous a confirmé que les travaux de la tour Aire 2, débuteront en septembre 2011, avec la déconstruction de l'ancienne tour Aurore. Le permis de construire devrait être déposé en mairie de Courbevoie dans les prochaines semaines.

----> Eric Sasson confirmed to us that work on the Air2 tower (202m) will start in september 2011 with the deconstruction of the Aurore tower(100m). The building permit is to be submitted at the City Hall of Courbevoie in the next few weeks.

:)

http://www.defense-92.com/lesnewsdeladefense.html

EDIT: you're welcome Ni3IS :).

Sweet, thanks for letting us know!

According to our reliable comrade Mohamed6 (PSS), the demolition permit was displayed in front of the Aurore Tower today! I guess a photo will soon be available to illustrate this valuable information...:cheers:

The public inquiry for the AIR2 tower will take place from April 18th to May 20th.

L'enquête publique pour la tour Aire 2 se déroulera du lundi 18 avril 2011 au vendredi 20 mai 2011 à la mairie de Courbevoie. La tour Aire 2 conçue par le cabinet Arquitectonica pour le compte de son investisseur Carlyle group, d'une hauteur de 247,66 mètres NGF pour une surface de 82 463m² SHON prendra la place de la tour Aurore située place de l'Iris et place des Reflets.

Bernard Bertucco Van Damme, chef d'entreprise - directeur technique, est désigné en qualité de commissaire enquêteur.

Cinq permanences seront assurées en mairie de Courbevoie au service des permis de construire :

- Le lundi 18 avril 2011 de 09h00 à 12h15,
- Le jeudi 28 avril 2011 de 14h à 18h,
- Le jeudi 5 mai 2011 de 15h à 19h30,
- Le samedi 14 mai 2011 de 9h à 12h,
- Le vendredi 20 mai 2011 de 14h à 17h30.

Le public pourra consulter le dossier soumis à l'enquête publique et consigner ses remarques sur un registre au service des permis de construire de la mairie de Courbevoie du lundi au vendredi de 9h à 12h et de 13h à 17h30 ainsi que le samedi 14 mai 2011 de 9h à 12h.

Pour rappel l'investisseur du projet a obtenu le 3 décembre 2010, le permis de démolir pour la tour Aurore également appelée CB 17, ainsi que pour l'immeuble BNP Paribas.

http://www.defense-92.com/lesnewsdeladefense.html

Beautiful. It's fitting that the people who are the most fashionable in Europe, will have the most beautiful skyline in Europe.

Very nice renders!

paris is becoming the most modern city in europe!!

Why the height of the title is now 207m?

No idee, for me the official height is still 202m.
Edit, it seems that 207m is from the ring road and 202m from la dalle (and there is an entry from the ring road so the height of 207m is ok).

http://img832.imageshack.us/edit_preview.php?l=img832/259/photosdfense115.jpg&action=rotate&degree=0&r=0.7073586534587626

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/84/photosdfense119.jpg

Another 'en blanc' speculative construction or are they waiting for a pre-let on this one? I'd imagine demolition of the old building should go ahead soon at least.

To answer your question Talisker, AIR2 is like D2, an "en blanc" construction.

The demolition of the current tower (Aurore, 110m) should start very soon indeed. I guess they're waiting for VERITAS(D2's future site) to be entirely demolished before starting with Aurore's which is next to it. The VERITAS's demolition is hoped to be completed by august 12th (& I personally think that it will-----> cf D2's thread).

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/406/031vyr.jpg
Aurore Tower (110m)

The deconstruction works of the Aurore Tower to make room for AIR2 Tower, will begin early 2012, Philippe Chaix said, explaining that the demolition works of Aurore will take around 16 months. The tower will be deconstructed floor by floor. AIR2's works could therefore begin in 2013. The planning permission of AIR2 Tower currently faces 2 claims, one from SOGECAP (the group building D2 Tower) & the other one from Manhattan Tower.

I like it :okay: