Hermitage Plaza
2x323m
94 fl and 92 fl
Mixed use
Architect : Foster
2014

http://www.defense-92.com/photos/08.jpg

http://www.defense-92.com/photos/13.jpg


http://www.hermitage-immo.fr/fr/lib/pdf/Brochure_HERMITAGE_Plaza.pdf

_______________________________________________________
Old design.

309 and 291m
Architect : Ferrier

http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/7859/hermitage3xq9.jpg

http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/4243/hermitage2jl5.jpg

http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/5008/hermitage1zx7.jpg

Information in english (http://quotidianoimmobiliare.dailyre.info/files/HERMITAGE%20TOWERS%20-DP%20GB%20OK%20Client%20.pdf)

Even if not every body like the design and its localisation it is one of most ambitious project in la Defense, in Greater Paris and in France

Can't say I'm a fan.

They should build Libeskind, wilmotte or Foster's projects before they even think of building these two, I can't believe they are going with the worst ones. IMO anyway. Ferrier's proposal for the Tour Phare competition was much better than this, and I thought they would have used that for the Tour Signal competition too. Nouvel's was just a re-hash of his Phare project, why couldn't Ferrier do the same?

I quite agree I hope that the design will change a little, but the heights are perfect.

I hope it will be built anyway!
It should have been the winner for Signal.

massive but cute... i prefer orange cladding btw
then 4 supertalls for 2014

The towers arren't very well yet but the worst is their location in LD : they'll hide an all part of the skyline (with Phare, Air², New Gan,...)
:(

Official site in french (http://hermitage-immo.fr/projets/immobilier-entreprise.php)

http://hermitage-immo.fr/lib/img/projet/galerie/01.jpg
http://hermitage-immo.fr/lib/img/projet/galerie/08.jpg

It is not the best supertall ever , but it's better than this shit of Tour Signal by Nouvel imo .


So in Paris ~2014 , we should have
Tour Phare ~300m
Tour Generali ~300m
Tour Signal - 301m (Or very hypothetic 370m with screen)
Tours Hermitage - 309m

4 supertalls until 2014 would be awesome, hopefully more will come

Its a really nice designed tower but we shouldnt be duped. I dont think that the cladding will have the yellow-blue color like in the render.

http://hermitage-immo.fr/lib/img/projet/galerie/01.jpg

Of course it will not, everyone should know that in France the cladding never look like at render. :lol:

That's right! But I think this clading is very interesting and I hope they won't change it if they build this tower.

wow, i love those 2 "bridges" between the towers...

it looks nice!!

Not bad, i like the base though.

why russians sponsors this project? :( And it is wouldnt be a tallest project in Europe :)

Wow! another supertall for Paris! :) Great! :cheers:

Of course it will not, everyone should know that in France the cladding never look like at render. :lol:

Sadly, this is undeniably a very true statement. :ohno:

It's a great building, no doubt about that. But the location is so wrong !!! It will hide all the north part of LD when looking from the Arc de Triomphe, including Phare, Total, Generali, Gan & Axa. :(

Love this towers, this is what paris needs! amazing! :cheers:

i dont like it, it is not aestetic, its just a strange thing... i mean, a 5 year old could draw such lines:toilet:

I loved it, it's very modern it reminds me that building in Beijing

this is just my opinion of course but for such a historically beautiful city known for it's style I am surprised at the choices made in skyscrapers.They're not all bad,just very different(maybe that's what they're aiming for) and some a little ungainly

If built this one won't be done by tomorow.

Sorry I don't like it and less for Paris where everything is beautiful.

this is just my opinion of course but for such a historically beautiful city known for it's style I am surprised at the choices made in skyscrapers.They're not all bad,just very different(maybe that's what they're aiming for) and some a little ungainly


All the tower to be constructed in Paris are actually not in the historical Paris itself , it's outside the city in an area called La Défense.


Building such massive modern towers would be a shame if it was next to the Eiffel tower , but it's not , it's pretty far away.

Here you can see what I mean :

La Défense is in the left background :

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/124/351014461_da6817b992.jpg?v=0

^^I know how Paris is planned,it's just that even on the outskirts of the city where the towers are,they're,well,just not in the same tradition of taste-whatever that would be:)anyway just an opinion

What is it with Paris and these weird designs?

What is it with Paris and these weird designs?

They might be weird bt they are certainly better than the 80s blocks in a city that is considered one of the cultural capitals of the world lol. Go Paris!

They might be weird bt they are certainly better than the 80s blocks in a city that is considered one of the cultural capitals of the world lol.

compared to Jakarta and Auckland lol, Paris is one of the cultural capital of the world. :)

I didn't like the design in the beginning when I first saw it for the Tour Signal project. But I actually got used to it, although I still think the top part looks somehow strange - and I know how I would change it, but I can't explain it.
Anyway, I think it would be nice if these towers get built.

I LOVE it. I'm all about asymmetry and bridging two towers. So, my question is...has this already been thrown out for Tour Signal or is it still a candidate? I hope it would not depart much from the rendering unless it's for the best.

Fantastic design :)

It lost the Tour Signal contest yesterday (Nouvel's proposal grabbed the award), but there is a strong probability for these towers to be built according to several professional newspapers. The company behind this project seems to be very motivated and pushy to get the building erected around 2014, and has already bought the land and startes the procedures to move the inhabitants out.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/124/351014461_da6817b992.jpg?v=0

This pic is amazing (from Montparnasse Tower isn't it ?)


Anyway, I really don't think they should built those towers there and like that, it'll be very very ugly

Please don't !!

B48ul-YshfM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B48ul-YshfM

It is huge and beautiful !!!!

This project is amazing, La Defense will look even better with this skyscraper!

New renders on :
Hermitage.fr (http://hermitage-immo.fr/projets/immobilier-entreprise.php)


http://www.hermitage-immo.fr/lib/img/projet/galerie/01.jpg
http://www.hermitage-immo.fr/lib/img/projet/galerie/02.jpg
http://www.hermitage-immo.fr/lib/img/projet/galerie/03.jpg
http://www.hermitage-immo.fr/lib/img/projet/galerie/04.jpg
http://www.hermitage-immo.fr/lib/img/projet/galerie/05.jpg
http://www.hermitage-immo.fr/lib/img/projet/galerie/06.jpg
http://www.hermitage-immo.fr/lib/img/projet/galerie/07.jpg
http://www.hermitage-immo.fr/lib/img/projet/galerie/08.jpg

Inside looks amazing , can't wait to see that .

I don't know anything about this project the first rendering looks good but some of the other one not so much. If this the worst pick then I wonder what some of the great ones look like.

^^ At first it was a proposal for the Tour Signal project. http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=593511

I like the design. The skybridges and the concert hall look cool. :okay:

Nice Glass! Very unique looking design, especially with the top of the smaller tower. Hopefully it will be built.

http://hermitage-immo.fr/lib/img/projet/galerie/09-big.jpg
http://hermitage-immo.fr/lib/img/projet/galerie/11-big.jpg

I realy love these towers and I hope they will be build.

Nice towers indeed, very original. Hopefully though the location will not be too close to La Defense to spoil the view from the Champs Elysees. :crazy:

Nice towers indeed, very original. Hopefully though the location will not be too close to La Defense to spoil the view from the Champs Elysees. :crazy:

look one page back, you'll see on the renders that the location is directly at la defense ^^

I must say that the new renders make it look better in my eyes. I think it would be nice to see the towers in a couple of years.

^^ At first it was a proposal for the Tour Signal project. http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=593511

I think it to... was this proposal not in the competiton with the Nouvels Tower? Nouvel was the winner, end so is this project rejected?

Or is it a totaly different project?

No it is the same project but we knew since the debut that several towers of the Signal contest could be build. It was quite an official rumor.

According lastest news not only Hermitage with the architect Ferrier want build its tower but aslo Bouygues Immobilier with Willmote and Compagnie La Lucette with Foster.

There were 5 finalists for the "Signal Tower" competition. Jean Nouvel's tower won, so Hermitage(Ferrier), Wilmotte(X Tower), Foster and Liebeskind were the loosers. In the final Round, Nouvel's tower beat Liebeskind one by 9 votes to 3.
Three of the loosers towers have chance to be built: Foster's, Wilmotte's and Ferrier(the twins)

There were 5 finalists for the "Signal Tower" competition. Jean Nouvel's tower won, so Hermitage(Ferrier), Wilmotte(X Tower), Foster and Liebeskind were the loosers. In the final Round, Nouvel's tower beat Liebeskind one by 9 votes to 3.
Three of the loosers towers have chance to be built: Foster's, Wilmotte's and Ferrier(the twins)

cool and glassy

No it is the same project but we knew since the debut that several towers of the Signal contest could be build. It was quite an official rumor.

According lastest news not only Hermitage with the architect Ferrier want build its tower but aslo Bouygues Immobilier with Willmote and Compagnie La Lucette with Foster.

Wow :nuts: sorry but if this is true, it will be incredible for "La Defense" stunning skyline in the future if, is say if they all will be realised? :) We will see...

Wow :nuts: sorry but if this is true, it will be incredible for "La Defense" stunning skyline in the future if, is say if they all will be realised? :) We will see...

Willmote and Foster are quite uncertain.

It's a fairly average design IMO... bulky and awkward from some angles. The Tour Signal is a hundred times better.

Things have changed now .Cities around the world are building colosal buildings it feels so good to see Europe is moving along with the trend from London ,Paris ...to Moscow ,I love big Cities with some supertalls in it

Good news! This was my 2nd preferred proposal for Tour Signal and certainly i would have liked if it have won instead of Nouvel's design, but hearing that Tour Signal AND Tours Hermitage will be built is even better!:banana: ...
I think that the design for this tower is well suited in La Defense, i like that it will be twin towers as well that they will be connected by 2 skybridges , though the facade could maybe have a different look, but it'll probably look different in reality than on the renders.
Another very good thing is that these towers will be used for mostlly residential purposes, which is quite uncommon in Europe until now, but this two towers could be just the beginning of a residential highrise booom in Paris and posiibly other European cities-i at least hope that it'll happen.
If all the currently proposed supertalls (Tour Phare , Tour Generali, Tour Signal and Tours Hermitage) as well as some of the other skyscrapers over 200 m like PB 22 ,Tour Air2 and The new Tour Gan will get built, Paris will have the best skyline in Western Europe by far, beating Frankfurt as well as London and will be no. 2 in Europe after Moscow. IMO Paris even could beat Moscow with maybe another 2 300+ m towers and one tower over 400m (Maybe the Tour sans fins will be re-considered to be built again in the future, who knows) and Paris would be numero uno in Europe as well as in the top 10 skylines worldwide.
But obviously thats not what's most important here, but more important is that this towers are re-making the skyline of Paris, because to face the truth, any major city needs a good skyline nowadays IMO.
P.S i read on Spiegel Online that the mayor of Paris is thinking about allowing highrises to be built in the historical center of Paris again (article in German:http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/0,1518,555874,00.html ) anybody knows something more about that?
anyway, said enough, here are some more renders of this win towers:
http://hermitage-immo.fr/lib/img/projet/galerie/13-big.jpg
http://hermitage-immo.fr/lib/img/projet/galerie/10-big.jpg
http://hermitage-immo.fr/lib/img/projet/galerie/14-big.jpg

Good news! This was my 2nd preferred proposal for Tour Signal and certainly i would have liked if it have won instead of Nouvel's design, but hearing that Tour Signal AND Tours Hermitage will be built is even better!:banana: ...
I think that the design for this tower is well suited in La Defense, i like that it will be twin towers as well that they will be connected by 2 skybridges , though the facade could maybe have a different look, but it'll probably look different in reality than on the renders.
Another very good thing is that these towers will be used for mostlly residential purposes, which is quite uncommon in Europe until now, but this two towers could be just the beginning of a residential highrise booom in Paris and posiibly other European cities-i at least hope that it'll happen.
If all the currently proposed supertalls (Tour Phare , Tour Generali, Tour Signal and Tours Hermitage) as well as some of the other skyscrapers over 200 m like PB 22 ,Tour Air2 and The new Tour Gan will get built, Paris will have the best skyline in Western Europe by far, beating Frankfurt as well as London and will be no. 2 in Europe after Moscow. IMO Paris even could beat Moscow with maybe another 2 300+ m towers and one tower over 400m (Maybe the Tour sans fins will be re-considered to be built again in the future, who knows) and Paris would be numero uno in Europe as well as in the top 10 skylines worldwide.
But obviously thats not what's most important here, but more important is that this towers are re-making the skyline of Paris, because to face the truth, any major city needs a good skyline nowadays IMO.
P.S i read on Spiegel Online that the mayor of Paris is thinking about allowing highrises to be built in the historical center of Paris again (article in German:http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/0,1518,555874,00.html ) anybody knows something more about that?
anyway, said enough, here are some more renders of this win towers:
http://hermitage-immo.fr/lib/img/projet/galerie/13-big.jpg
http://hermitage-immo.fr/lib/img/projet/galerie/10-big.jpg
http://hermitage-immo.fr/lib/img/projet/galerie/14-big.jpg

Yes you're right, the mayor of Paris , Bertrand Deolanoe, would like to see some sckyscrapers being built in the city of Paris. He would like to see them closed to the gates of the city. For the moment, a building cannot be taller than 35 meters in the city center, there is a project to change the borders of Paris, it could have the effect to supress this law and to see more skyscrapers in ILE DE FRANCE (metro paris) and especially in Paris. But it's just a PROJECT and in France it's always very hard to make a change :)

Sorry about my english.... I'm too lazy today to think about it :)

For me, this is the perfect choice for a great city like Paris. Tall and unique but not too alienated.

nice tower. only i like it more when it they will build it in La Defense.

I don't know, the only word that came to mind when seeing this is 'lopsided'!!!!!

Yes you're right, the mayor of Paris , Bertrand Deolanoe, would like to see some sckyscrapers being built in the city of Paris. He would like to see them closed to the gates of the city. For the moment, a building cannot be taller than 35 meters in the city center, there is a project to change the borders of Paris, it could have the effect to supress this law and to see more skyscrapers in ILE DE FRANCE (metro paris) and especially in Paris. But it's just a PROJECT and in France it's always very hard to make a change :)

Sorry about my english.... I'm too lazy today to think about it :)

I wouldn't be so optimistic. The 35m limit could be expanded too :(.

Wow, this one of the most sexy designs I have seen so far! It almost looks like a parisian woman standing tall!

That's a lot of 'movement' for a building

Very impressing towers. They'll be fine addition to Paris skyline! :)

If built, this will become the biggest ugly thing in Paris. No kidding, someone had a problem with aesthetics when designing that grotesque skybar on top, the 50's facade or that awkward v-shaped bridge.

This one is great and the design fits very well into Paris' skyline...

i love those towers. Very urban.

Those towers have nice design. I hope to built them too

Cooperation between Architect and Investor has ended ..

So , probably the tower will be back soon with a new architect and of course a whole redesign .

it's rejected, won't be built

it's rejected, won't be built

That's a shame ... :(

What..? Skyscrapers in l'Ile de France? Say it ain't so...

I thought that was what La Defense was for... to herd all these skyscrapers together into one cohesive skyline. Part of the visceral power of Tour Eiffel is that it stands alone, with nothing around it to detract. Same with the view of Notre-Dame as you're coming down the Seine.. and now the mayor wants to build a skyscraper or two behind it?

I sincerely hope we're being punked.

That's a shame ... :(
The skyscraper is not rejected, it is the architect and design that change.
Some rumors say that Cesar Pelli is the new architect.

Yeah since September a few things changed, the project is maintained but it will be a different, unknown yet, design.

What..? Skyscrapers in l'Ile de France? Say it ain't so...

I thought that was what La Defense was for... to herd all these skyscrapers together into one cohesive skyline. Part of the visceral power of Tour Eiffel is that it stands alone, with nothing around it to detract. Same with the view of Notre-Dame as you're coming down the Seine.. and now the mayor wants to build a skyscraper or two behind it?

I sincerely hope we're being punked.

Relax , there will never be skyscrapers in Central Paris .

Most of them are in La Défense CBD district (in which these towers are gonna be)
There is also some projects to build ones around the city , near the beltway.

So it's just a redesign and the project isn't cancelled...because i was afraid that they'd cancel what I think would be one of the best projects that Paris has seen...
maybe the architecture isn't that great, but I think that the idea for this project is great, a mixed-use project that includes residential space too, because LD definetily needs some residential towers , and not just office towers to bring in a higher feeling of urbanity into the district.

But since Minato Ku and Matthieu said that it's just a redesign, I hope that the new design will be better than the last one, which I don't think was so bad either, and that they will stay with the twin tower design.

Relax , there will never be skyscrapers in Central Paris .

Most of them are in La Défense CBD district (in which these towers are gonna be)
There is also some projects to build ones around the city , near the beltway.

I so hope you're right about that. Here's what I was reacting to, a few posts above mine.

P.S i read on Spiegel Online that the mayor of Paris is thinking about allowing highrises to be built in the historical center of Paris again

Now, is it just me, or does anyone else think that highrises and/or supertalls outside of La Défense diminish the landmarks that are already there, e.g., Eiffel, l'Arc de Triomphe, etc.?

I remember wandering the streets on the right bank back in 1980, not quite sure where I was in relation to any of the better-known tourist attractions, and then I turned a corner and suddenly saw a plaza in front of me, and on the far side this audacious glass building with colored pipes running in and out of it (if memory serves) in a very Bauhaus fashion. This was of course the Pompidou center. I quite enjoyed the shock and the audacity of it, but I think I would not have done quite so much had the building been taller.

According to the french magazine Le Nouvel Observateur, Norman Foster has been chosen by Hermitage :

La Défense: Au tour de Foster!

Alors que de lourdes hypothèques pèsent sur l'avenir de nombreux projets de construction, le promoteur russe Hermitage continue à développer son étrange concept de tour jumelles très (très) haut standing. Un projet confié à Norman Foster.
[...]


http://parisobs.nouvelobs.com/article/architecture-et-urbanisme/hauts-de-seine/la-defense-au-tour-de-foster,4178,page1.html#section1

I so hope you're right about that. Here's what I was reacting to, a few posts above mine.



Now, is it just me, or does anyone else think that highrises and/or supertalls outside of La Défense diminish the landmarks that are already there, e.g., Eiffel, l'Arc de Triomphe, etc.?

I remember wandering the streets on the right bank back in 1980, not quite sure where I was in relation to any of the better-known tourist attractions, and then I turned a corner and suddenly saw a plaza in front of me, and on the far side this audacious glass building with colored pipes running in and out of it (if memory serves) in a very Bauhaus fashion. This was of course the Pompidou center. I quite enjoyed the shock and the audacity of it, but I think I would not have done quite so much had the building been taller.

I agree that highrises in the old centre of Paris would be a bad idea.

The Hermitage Plaza tower will be unveiled to the public for the first time, on Wednesday 11 March 2009.
Key facts :
Demolition & reconstruction operation
Planner: EPAD
Investor & promoter: Hermitage
Architect: Norman Foster
Floor area: 250,000 m2 of which 150,000 m2 residential, 35,000 m2 a hotel, 30,000 m2 offices and 35,000 m2 retail
Height: 323 m
Location: La Défense 1
Delivery date: 2014
Surveys in progress

http://www.seine-arche.fr/images/images_epasa/actus/progmipim09.pdf

323m, if built it'll be western europe's tallest right?

^^ I think there is a 350m supertall project in Frankfurt but I don't know if it will be built.
Can someone change the title?

Great news, by the way, did anyone else noticed that it's 323m, Eiffel tower is staying number one 324m :tongue2:

^^ I think there is a 350m supertall project in Frankfurt but I don't know if it will be built.

yes, there's such a project...it's approved for 350m or even more. but at the moment it doesn't seem it'll be build in the next few years.

Great news, by the way, did anyone else noticed that it's 323m, Eiffel tower is staying number one 324m :tongue2:

Hermitage will be the tallest skyscraper though, you can't really count the Eiffel Tower as a building. If you do, then this thing would be counted too:

http://icons-pe.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/t/TomArgh/45.jpg

;)

What..? Skyscrapers in l'Ile de France? Say it ain't so...

I thought that was what La Defense was for... to herd all these skyscrapers together into one cohesive skyline. Part of the visceral power of Tour Eiffel is that it stands alone, with nothing around it to detract. Same with the view of Notre-Dame as you're coming down the Seine.. and now the mayor wants to build a skyscraper or two behind it?

I sincerely hope we're being punked.

Yeah, it should be weird but look the Montparnasse Tower, it have a position abnormal into french skyline, at least in Paris (La Defense)

Hermitage will be the tallest skyscraper though, you can't really count the Eiffel Tower as a building. If you do, then this thing would be counted too:

;)

:D

http://www.fosterandpartners.com/content/projects/1158/83121.jpg

And think I see that everyday from work!

Hermitage will be the tallest skyscraper though, you can't really count the Eiffel Tower as a building. If you do, then this thing would be counted too:

http://icons-pe.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/t/TomArgh/45.jpg

;)

Lol what the hell is that ? BTW yeah it will be the tallest skyscraper, I was just pointing out that it's like they don't want to go over the Eiffel tower. :cheers:

Lol what the hell is that ? BTW yeah it will be the tallest skyscraper, I was just pointing out that it's like they don't want to go over the Eiffel tower. :cheers:

That, my dear pierre, is the Emley Moor transmitting station. Probably the UK's equivalent of the Eiffel Tower, sort of. It would be the tallest in the UK, but we can't really count it as a building.

It was meant to be a joke:lol: Yes, It wasn't funny.

lol thanks, that thing is pretty cool thought, it kinda looks like a huge Lighthouse.

Yes, I suppose there are uglier towers out there. I think you used to be able to go up to the top, but they don't let you anymore:( The view wouldn't be quite as good as that from the ET lol, but it would still be pretty damn cool:D

Edit: Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing what Norman comes up with... I really liked Ferrier's proposal for the Tour Phare, but his proposal for this was... not so good. Hopefully the new design will be better.

Renders of the Foster projet : today 5pm Paris time .

Medias says : 320 m twin towers , one for residence , another for office and hotel.
place completely renewed with many shops and restaurants .

It's said to give the impression of a sundial " to the changeable lights according to the hours of the day. Delivery planned at the end of 2014.

New design revealed :
http://www.hermitage-immo.fr/fr/lib/pdf/Brochure_HERMITAGE_Plaza.pdf

http://www.hermitage-immo.fr/fr/


:banana:

Please change the title. We have now 2x323 m towers, 91 and 93 floors. :cheers:

^^a very nice project for Paris...:banana:

Just a small render. Bigger renders are avaible, just follow the link posted by Alvar Lavague.

http://www.businessimmo.info/_img_upload/2009mars/hermitage_plaza_jour_bd.jpg
http://www.businessimmo.info/pages/lettre/fiche.php?s_code=090311F3593

Different and pretty!

http://www.ladefense.fr/images/dynamic/events/0t6hermitage.jpg
http://www.hermitage-immo.fr/fr/lib/img/projet/projets-mixtes-index.jpg

Very nice, certainly better than the previous effort.

nice tower its very fashion

http://www.defense-92.com/photos/08.jpg
http://www.defense-92.com/photos/05.jpg
http://www.defense-92.com/photos/07.jpg
http://www.defense-92.com/photos/15.jpg
http://www.defense-92.com/photos/01.jpg
http://www.defense-92.com/photos/16day.jpg
http://www.defense-92.com/photos/03.jpg
http://www.defense-92.com/photos/04.jpg
http://www.defense-92.com/photos/13.jpg
http://www.defense-92.com/photos/17.jpg

wow this towers are going to have one of the best views worldwide! not so sure about the design, though.. A skybridge could have made quite a difference. how big are the chances of this getting built?

http://www.defense-92.fr/photos/ph5196.jpg

@ The other Dude
According to the director of Hermitage, the financing is found and construction could begin in the end of 2010, but with crisis, I think that it is necessary to be wary of this date.

terrific towers but la defense skyline is gonna be totally destroyed after that :ohno: wholly unsteady :ohno: :evil:

oups ....

terrific towers but la defense skyline is gonna be totally destroyed after that :ohno: wholly unsteady :ohno: :evil:

French are REALLY difficult somtimes ....

i have to agree that it doesnt really fit the existing skyline
reminds me of the tower in dubai that is getting built on the beach in front of all the other towers

terrific towers but la defense skyline is gonna be totally destroyed after that :ohno: wholly unsteady :ohno: :evil:
I disagree. You seem to consider that somehow time will stop in 2014 for ever. It's not as if La Défense will be frozen in 2014 (that annoying French mentality, incapable of thinking the city in a dynamic forward-looking way :bash:).

The skyline of La Défense will be temporarily skewed towards the right as seen from the Arc de Triomphe, but then new skyscrapers will be built to the left of the axis over time to compensate. In fact it's excellent news, because it will force future city planners to authorize supertall skyscrapers to the left of the axis to compensate for these twin towers. La Défense is anything but a district frozen in time!

I disagree. You seem to consider that somehow time will stop in 2014 for ever. It's not as if La Défense will be frozen in 2014 (that annoying French mentality, incapable of thinking the city in a dynamic forward-looking way :bash:).

The skyline of La Défense will be temporarily skewed towards the right as seen from the Arc de Triomphe, but then new skyscrapers will be built to the left of the axis over time to compensate. In fact it's excellent news, because it will force future city planners to authorize supertall skyscrapers to the left of the axis to compensate for these twin towers. La Défense is anything but a district frozen in time!


For once I agree totally with you.

Really cool. I want a condo in the top of one of them.. damn, views are really incroyables

Like the tower/s. I'd hate to be in that pool and spa room and slip on the tile anywhere near one of those glass walls though.

^
What sort of glass do you think that they are going to use? Bohemian glass? :D

The previous design seemed to be more innovative.
This one looks a bit boring 'cause of the two identical towers,but the geometry of the buildings is good.

more on the paris hermitage towers (http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=2030) here...

quite nice i think, particularly like the geometry they've used in them. foster needs a trick other than a white diagrid over blue glass though.

The skyline of La Défense will be temporarily skewed towards the right as seen from the Arc de Triomphe, but then new skyscrapers will be built to the left of the axis over time to compensate. In fact it's excellent news, because it will force future city planners to authorize supertall skyscrapers to the left of the axis to compensate for these twin towers. La Défense is anything but a district frozen in time!

Right!

Magnificent!

Something few people have noticed so far is the fact that although the Hermitage Towers will be 1 meter short of the Eiffel Tower (in order to avoid public controversies I suppose), their last floors will be much higher than the last floor of the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower is 1 meter taller than the Hermitage Towers overall only thanks to its antenna. Its last floor (the uppermost part of the Eiffel Tower you can reach as a tourist) is "only" 276 m/906 ft above street level, whereas the last floors of the Hermitage Towers should be about 320 m / 1,050 ft above street level judging from the renderings.

In fact the Hermitage Towers will have the tallest habitable floors in the European Union by far. Their last floors are about as high as the last floors of the Empire State Building. Below I made a graph showing the Hermitage Towers and other famous skyscrapers in Europe and the rest of the world for comparisons. If they end up being built, the Hermitage Towers will truly look like two enormous skyscrapers on the banks of the Seine, more voluminous and towering than the Eiffel Tower. I think at this point it's still hard for many people to realize how massive they will look. The graph below gives an idea of what to expect.

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/6020/hermitagediag.png

boxy and ugly.

^^

You are poor and jealous. :D

Amazing design and height!

@ The other Dude
According to the director of Hermitage, the financing is found and construction could begin in the end of 2010, but with crisis, I think that it is necessary to be wary of this date.

Sounds good. These towers are magnificent. :)

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7219/ph5197j.jpg

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3889/ph5198.jpg

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/4152/ph5199.jpg

i sorry to say this design is really ugly, i would prefer the old one as its has a "bridge" connected those two towers.

PropertyEU, March 13, 2009 :
Hermitage signs financing for tower at La Defense

Hermitage, the French property arm of Russian group Stroimontage, reached an agreement on Wednesday with an undisclosed pool of banks for the financing of the Hermitage Plaza tower project located at La Défense business district in Paris. A Hermitage spokesperson would not reveal the amount of the financing, but the development of the scheme will involve an investment of over EUR 2 bn.
[...]

http://www.propertyeu.info/newsletter/default.asp?id=8669

i sorry to say this design is really ugly, i would prefer the old one as its has a "bridge" connected those two towers.

What is the obsession with bridges between the towers?

The design would be worse for it IMO:nuts:

2BN EUR. Pricey. Looks good though.

Better than the old design

Very impressive... especially the night-time rendering.

Presentation movie (http://www.dailymotion.com/related/x8njnt/video/x8nhog_tours-hermitage-plaza_news)

Wilmotte french architect said at the MIPIM in Cannes that his tower, one of the selected project for the tour signal will be built in la Défense in the next years !
good news ! :banana:

^^That should be posted in the general Paris thread, not here. This is the link to the general Paris thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=332767&page=98

huge project in an European city especially in France and during the crisis
well done Paris

I never thought I'd say this (;)) but...congratulations Paris! :)

I don't like Paris with supertalls. It doesn't look good to me.

I don't like Paris with supertalls. It doesn't look good to me.Paris already has a supertall since 120 years and no one seems to bother... :angel:

Anyway, the towers are located in La Défense which is not exactly near Notre-Dame. Personnally, I find them absolutely beautiful, exactly what Paris needs actually.

They are soaring, gracious, and I would even add feminine. This changes from the big masculine towers we've been used to in Paris and which indeed, doesn't fit the city well.

I do hope Nouvel's Signal Tower will be cancelled (and it should be the case knowing the bad shape of its investor). Signal Tower is too heavy, too large, too squared. If the Hermitage Plaza twins are built and the Signal Tower isn't, then I'll be the happiest in the world... Phare and Generali only being bonuses to me.

These are more like it. A bit derivative from McFosters but these are interesting and are a modern twist on the blocky La Defense environment.

I do hope Nouvel's Signal Tower will be cancelled (and it should be the case knowing the bad shape of its investor). Signal Tower is too heavy, too large, too squared. If the Hermitage Plaza twins are built and the Signal Tower isn't, then I'll be the happiest in the world... Phare and Generali only being bonuses to me.


Fingers crossed for this.Maybe we can even see Libeskind's proposal built,since it was proposed for the same site.This would be perfect!

I'm sorry but one thing no one seems to point out (or even notice) and which has always been considered an issue with LD is: the flatness of its 'roof'.
We really need a couple of spires and funky shapes I think. Foster's design will not only block the most important view (arguably perhaps, from the 'historical axis') of those new interesting designs which we, only recently, were offered, but his twins will elevate the so-called 'roof' to flatten the whole of LD even more.

Even though I don't hate them, sorry not to join the parade; their design is totally unfit for the location as far as architectural harmony goes. Turn it however you want but a 300 m wall isn't very welcoming. From the distance they will only crush the entire district. Nouvel's Signal NOW becomes a problem pretty much for the same reason.
LD seems destined to be bulky and inelegant.

That one is defintely better than the old designs. :yes:

Right!

Don't you mean left? ;)

I really like the new design. I'm not sure what Jayo thinks a box is, but these certainly aren't boxes. I really like the angles of the buildings. It's almost like an optical illusion because from one angle they're wide and then they're skinny. It almost looks as if they will tip over! The cross bracing does a great job of breaking up the monotony of glass. The interior is amazing too. Very luxurious.

I don't understand why people would be upset about skyscrapers being built in La Défense. It's not Paris, and people wanting the city to stay the same are simply hindering progress. As one of the most important cities in the world, Paris cannot stand still. Just like humans, a city is a living thing and it needs to grow and evolve. Sometimes that means you have to build awesome skyscrapers!

IMO "reversed" they would look better than now. Just like this image shows it.
http://i40.tinypic.com/2w3tiqd.png

What do you think guys?

Ouaaaah they are beautiful! What a view on Paris!

IMO "reversed" they would look better than now. Just like this image shows it.
http://i40.tinypic.com/2w3tiqd.png

What do you think guys?

Not bad, but I like them the way they are.

IMO "reversed" they would look better than now. Just like this image shows it.
http://i40.tinypic.com/2w3tiqd.png

What do you think guys?

nice, but less uncommon...

^^ nah. :lol: i like the real one better.

Even though I don't hate them, sorry not to join the parade; their design is totally unfit for the location as far as architectural harmony goes. Turn it however you want but a 300 m wall isn't very welcoming. From the distance they will only crush the entire district. Nouvel's Signal NOW becomes a problem pretty much for the same reason.
LD seems destined to be bulky and inelegant.Here's a rendering made by Kael :

http://grandparis.free.fr/ld2015.jpg

The tower shaped as an X on the left of the picture is still only a proposal. Anyway, I don't find the skyline that bulky or inelegant. Those Hermitage twins are quite soaring and light.

As a matter of fact, I think they could become the symbol of the skyline much more than Signal or Phare. And quite frankly, knowing I find them very beautiful, this idea doesn't affraid me at all.

IMO "reversed" they would look better than now. Just like this image shows it.
http://i40.tinypic.com/2w3tiqd.png

What do you think guys?But they are actually this way !
You just rotate your point of view on the towers by 90° and here's what you see :

http://www.defense-92.com/photos/ph5200.jpg

That's actually where lies the whole beauty of the building !

All those finding them bulky or boxy should really get a second look on their actual shape...

^^ That's so cool! These towers are awesome. I don't understand the argument that these towers will make the skyline unbalanced...who cares? Development is obviously proposed for the other side the Grande Arche.

I like the design of the new Hermitage Towers. What I don't like about the design, however, is their location. It is on the location of the uniquely designed, but ugly exterior, Les Daimiers towers. I would probably feel better when the Les Daimiers towers were renovated and given a new facade and relocating the Hermitage Towers proposal elsewhere in La Defense, like in the south portion of the district. If there was a plot in La Defense where there is a building that is not worth saving or there is nothing built on that site at all.

Good-looking towers, bad location.

absolutely amazing! not one, but two towers of this scale in europe .... wow

I like the design of the new Hermitage Towers. What I don't like about the design, however, is their location. It is on the location of the uniquely designed, but ugly exterior, Les Daimiers towers. I would probably feel better when the Les Daimiers towers were renovated and given a new facade and relocating the Hermitage Towers proposal elsewhere in La Defense, like in the south portion of the district. If there was a plot in La Defense where there is a building that is not worth saving or there is nothing built on that site at all.

Good-looking towers, bad location.Are you kidding? Here is "Les Damiers" :

http://www.emporis.com/images/6/2004/10/312026.jpg

Those are just awfully ugly buildings totally ruining a wonderful site: La Défense's banks of the Seine. There's absolutely nothing to save in those buildings and nobody will cry because of their demolition.

We have currently a business district of La Défense totally ignoring the Seine, and this Hermitage project will integrate the river banks to the district. How could this be a bad thing? As a matter of fact, those towers need to be built exactly on that location, because La Défense needs a better connection to the Seine if it wants a brighter future.

I should have came up with a plan to reclad the existing buildings just because they have a stair-like design. And they should be more difficult to reclad than to tear down. If Les Daimiers needs demolition, why can't you demolish ALL FOUR of these towers?!That post is making me dislike the new Hermitage Towers. Please don't make me hate the new towers.

I should have came up with a plan to reclad the existing buildings just because they have a stair-like design. And they should be more difficult to reclad than to tear down. If Les Daimiers needs demolition, why can't you demolish ALL FOUR of these towers?!That post is making me dislike the new Hermitage Towers. Please don't make me hate the new towers.Les Damiers represents the four buildings, and all of them will indeed be demolished. And i think this is great news.

I've never understood why the banks of the Seine are supposed to be the best place on earth when we are inside the City of Paris ; and then should be considered as garbage once in the suburbs.

My brother lives in Brisbane, and the way the banks of the river are laid out there is just beautiful. It made me shameful of the treatment given to the Seine in the Paris area. Finally we have people understanding that we are wasting a unique site in building craps like "les Damiers" on it. I won't cry because of this.

Now if this makes you hate Hermitage, that's your own problem.

How about we demolish the 7-story Residence de l'Ancre along with the entire complex, and a separate project is proposed for the former site of it and the two taller towers in the existing complex?

^^ How about we start being realistic and understand that we're only a bunch of geeks with no impact whatsoever on this or any other project.
We can only state our approval or frustration.

^^Okay, that statement would look like something that makes other users here look like cowards. It is making my blood boil. IMHO the Hermitage Towers is a good project and it should not be constructed instead of cancelled.

Great design!

^^Okay, that statement would look like something that makes other users here look like cowards. It is making my blood boil. IMHO the Hermitage Towers is a good project and it should not be constructed instead of cancelled.I don't understand. Firstly, what's the difference between "not being constructed" and "being cancelled", secondly, if you think it's a good project, why don't you want it to get built? :nuts:

double post. sorry

Here's a new video of the Hermitage Plaza project : :uh:

yE0IpLGL_0s

awesome video...like the towers more and more every day

A screenshot Post by Cyril

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3449/3385681310_4ccb9cf4c9_o.jpg

Looking good. For the sake of symmetry, two +300mtrs towers to the left (on the ^^ above screenshot) please. Dare I challenge someone able to photoshop this idea?

I don't like those towers, they don't fit in the skyline.

the screen doesnot show the other towers that will be built in 2015

the screen doesnot show the other towers that will be built in 2015There lies someone's duty!

I can't understand Paris would build this. It destroys the axis of symmetry of the whole city.

(To Metropolitan) Crap! I accidentally put the word "not" in my previous ost. I meant to say that "the towers should be constructed instead of cancelled".

I can't understand Paris would build this. It destroys the axis of symmetry of the whole city.

no because you have to imagine those two towers in the 2015 context (a mojority of projects will be (hope so) finished:

http://www.defense-92.com/photos/17.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3466/3348143091_ece90f58f6_o.jpg

http://grandparis.free.fr/ld2015.jpg

just built it, it will be beautiful in the end...just like f.e. the eiffel tower, there were times they wanted to demolish it...but now it is the symbol of Paris/France and one of the great symbols of western civilization

There's something with these towers that reminds me of Foster's proposal for the Freedom Tower

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/AMSguy/Fosters-Battery-Park-view-11.jpg

why is there willmote and not Nouvel in the last render ? Willmote have been approved ?
There is not phare too, Canceled ? The Skyline is unbalanced without Phare and Nouvel IMO...

why is there willmote and not Nouvel in the last render ? Willmote have been approved ?
There is not phare too, Canceled ? The Skyline is unbalanced without Phare and Nouvel IMO...

Phare is on the picture, far behind Hermitage!
Signal has a unknown destiny for the moment :)

really nice towers, but something about the location is just...i dont know.

On the skyline, they make it look disproportioned and they look horrendously misplaced. In context, they appear as two fingers up at the rest of Paris. But as towers on their own, they are beautiful and of a wonderful quality in design. :)

Dont like the way these towers are blocking out La Defence. But its a unique design :okay:

damn kewl tower.hope they will get build, stunning addition for paris skyline.

wow !! this will definitly change Paris skyline!!!!

mmmh. Not especially my taste. Hard to explain, but it has something to do with the shape of the towers in combination with the height. To dominant for this shape i would say.

this one is really an iconic tower.... wow....

There's something with these towers that reminds me of Foster's proposal for the Freedom Tower

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/AMSguy/Fosters-Battery-Park-view-11.jpg

Yes ther is a similarity.

Nice buildings but don't fit there. Whole La Defence doesn't look good with that big gap in the middle. I think London does better job where to put tall buildings etc. ..so London's skyline will look fantastic in couple of years.. Paris won't match unfortunately . also Shard London bridge will be probably best looking skryscaper in EU if not in the world.

:yawn:

YAWN...

Nice buildings but don't fit there. Whole La Defence doesn't look good with that big gap in the middle. I think London does better job where to put tall buildings etc. ..so London's skyline will look fantastic in couple of years.. Paris won't match unfortunately . also Shard London bridge will be probably best looking skryscaper in EU if not in the world.

completely opposite, there few beautiful designs of London skyscrapers that are being built, however the city planning is still messy, while La Defense in Paris is well-thought, with decent composition (thou i don't like particular towers much)

I hate to cut the party guys.... but we don't give a flying monkey about London in this thread!

I hope it gets built. I think is a very nice design, fits well in La Defense district :)

the second is very beautiful and modern!

Will the Hermitage buildnings be taller than the four big skyscrapers in Madrid?

Will the Hermitage buildnings be taller than the four big skyscrapers in Madrid?

Yes. The highest of the Cuatro Torres is 250m, so the Tours Hermitage are 73m taller.

Edit: You are referring to these, right?

http://s3.amazonaws.com/lcp/charlitox/myfiles/ct1-2.jpg

^^ my god, the second tower will be what the freedom tower will look like with the addition of a spire

Yes. The highest of the Cuatro Torres is 250m, so the Tours Hermitage are 73m taller.

Edit: You are referring to these, right?

http://s3.amazonaws.com/lcp/charlitox/myfiles/ct1-2.jpg


Yes, these was the buildnings i was referring to.

just built it, it will be beautiful in the end...just like f.e. the eiffel tower, there were times they wanted to demolish it...but now it is the symbol of Paris/France and one of the great symbols of western civilization

really??????:bash::bash::bash:

just built it, it will be beautiful in the end...just like f.e. the eiffel tower, there were times they wanted to demolish it...but now it is the symbol of Paris/France and one of the great symbols of western civilizationreally??????:bash::bash::bash:

Eiffel had a permit for the tower to stand for 20 years, meaning it would have had to be dismantled in 1909, when its ownership would revert to the City of Paris. The City had planned to tear it down (part of the original contest rules for designing a tower was that it could be easily demolished) but as the tower proved valuable for communication purposes, it was allowed to remain after the expiration of the permit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiffel_Tower

The other day, it occurred to me that the towers seem to be designed for the best views possible: the broad sides at the top face the City, and the rest of La Defense, but at the bottom, they face the plaza between the towers and up and down the Seine, and the middle section has fairly equal views all around. Good for sales, I think!

http://photo.lejdd.fr/media/images/jdd-paris/tour-hermitage/1532705-1-fre-FR/Tour-Hermitage.jpg

Hermitage world trade center lol La Defense's a little Manhattan

It looks f*cking awful. Don't ever build it! Twin towers are passé anyway. Why Paris of all places would even consider ruining their skyline is beyond me.

this project is great, one of the best at this moment, i love it

Manhattan is shitt, why do u even mention Manhattan?

:eek:
ugly ugly ugly
non va bene per parigi

Have they started with the constructions yet? If not when will they start?

Construction hasn't started yet, according to EPAD (La Defense Management & Development Office) building permit is due to be submitted by June.

the base seems to be tricking my eyes is it suppose to get bigger the higher it gets?

The shape of the top is exactly the same as the base's but rotated by 90°.

http://www.defense-92.com/photos/ph5200.jpg

I like them but not sure about their position relative to the main cluster. Considering the symmetry of the buildings, its slightly ironic that they would appear to do the opposite to the look of the main cluster.

http://photo.lejdd.fr/media/images/jdd-paris/tour-hermitage/1532705-1-fre-FR/Tour-Hermitage.jpg

Hermitage world trade center lol La Defense's a little Manhattan

This looks REALLY bad- it ruins the entire skyline. The ideal position would have been to the left of the pic, behind the main cluster- so it would still be visible but not hide half of the skyline. This project has a nice design but it's HUGE compared to the rest of the towers.

^^ They don't ruin the skyline. It's just a matter of habit.

Have they started with the constructions yet? If not when will they start?

The construction is expected to start in may 2011.

They would have made a cool "gate" if they'd built them on both sides of the boulevard!

These towers are awful, they will ruin Paris and should never be built. I can't believe so many French people on this site support them just because they are tall :ohno:. Hopefully the city council will put an end to such a freakshow.

They're definitely not awful, they're just misplaced

The twin towers are awesome, but I agree, maybe one on each side of the boulevard would be better

They're definitely not awful, they're just misplaced

And the shape, they look like legs, like something out of sci-fi. They should rename them Tours Hemerroid, or better yet cancel them :banana:

These towers are proposed for La Defense. That's a long way from central Paris, so why all the bother about them ruining Paris? They're too far away from the things that matter to threaten them. And if you want to see awful, I suggest you check out Paris's other big skyscraper proposals. They're much worse! Architecturally speaking, this is the only big Paris skyscraper proposal that's worth building, and I for one hope it goes ahead. I also don't think they're misplaced. I would perhaps have preferred if the side facing central Paris had been rotated 90 degrees so that the "slim tops" faced Paris rather than the "fat tops", but I still think the current arrangement is acceptable, and I also think it's better to have both of them placed on one side of the avenue rather than straddled across.

Nice buildings but don't fit there. Whole La Defence doesn't look good with that big gap in the middle. I think London does better job where to put tall buildings etc. ..so London's skyline will look fantastic in couple of years.. Paris won't match unfortunately . also Shard London bridge will be probably best looking skyscraper in EU if not in the world.I too prefer London's projects, and also the fact that most of them are in the city centre. I think it's an exhilarating urban mix whereby you have contemporary skyscrapers a few minutes walk from a massive 300-year-old baroque cathedral (St Paul's) or medieval castle (the Tower). I relish the architectural "conversation" that will take place between the dome of St Paul's, the Shard's spire, the Pinnacle, etc. However Paris is right to keep all its towers in La Defense. The nineteenth century architecture of central Paris is more intact than London's, and it would be philistine to build towers in such a well preserved central district. Most of London's new towers are replacing ugly post-WWII concrete horrors. That's why what's appropriate for London is not appropriate in Paris. Even in London we have to be careful. We shouldn't build them in West London for instance, because it's generally well preserved and worth keeping that way.

Please, stick to trolling your own threads, we don't care about London here!

I think one should not judge the towers by some renderings. I bet they look really well when finished. And as La Défense is special, I think it deserves special towers and not only boring boxes. I personally love all the talles proposals for LD. IMO a very nice cluster.
And London and Paris should never be compared. London, Paris, Frankfurt and Manhattan are completely different with different styles and models.
So people should stop these comparisons and enjoy the first 300+ towers in Western Europe (finally).

These towers are proposed for La Defense. That's a long way from central Paris, so why all the bother about them ruining Paris? They're too far away from the things that matter to threaten them. And if you want to see awful, I suggest you check out Paris's other big skyscraper proposals. They're much worse! Architecturally speaking, this is the only big Paris skyscraper proposal that's worth building, and I for one hope it goes ahead. I also don't think they're misplaced. I would perhaps have preferred if the side facing central Paris had been rotated 90 degrees so that the "slim tops" faced Paris rather than the "fat tops", but I still think the current arrangement is acceptable, and I also think it's better to have both of them placed on one side of the avenue rather than straddled across.

Hang on, this isn't about ruining the centre of Paris. We all (most of us on here) know that La Defence is some distance from Paris, this is about La Defence.

Love em' Its looks the Sama Tower in Dubai x2. :cheers: The more unusual the better!

I think one should not judge the towers by some renderings. I bet they look really well when finished. And as La Défense is special, I think it deserves special towers and not only boring boxes. I personally love all the talles proposals for LD. IMO a very nice cluster.
And London and Paris should never be compared. London, Paris, Frankfurt and Manhattan are completely different with different styles and models.
So people should stop these comparisons and enjoy the first 300+ towers in Western Europe (finally).

You forgot the Shard. :okay:

Emin Iskenderov (President of Hermitage) presents the Hermitage Plaza project to Poutine and Fillon in Grand Palais in Paris on 06/11/10

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/6716/dsc4891l.jpg

super new! new movie about the tallest mixed-use french tower Hermitage Plaza

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc7LJ85yIdI

http://s57.radikal.ru/i158/1006/d4/1fb231c55052t.jpg (http://radikal.ru/F/s57.radikal.ru/i158/1006/d4/1fb231c55052.jpg.html)

incredible! emin iskenderov with russian and french politicians at the grand palais with his project of the tallest tower

Do you think Poo-Tin may have liked it?

^^ Great video.
It still is a stupidly big glass wall covering the rest of the skyline. Hopefully, it will motivate investors to build even higher behind it/farther West. Though we are talking about France...

video :
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Fantastic :drool:

Video PARIS LA DEFENSE -> http://www.ladefense-seine-arche.fr/english/english-general/about-la-defense-seine-arche.html

amazing video

Wow! Beautiful twin towers! It reminds me a bit of WTC in some ways.

that video is amazing, but weird in a fey ways too.

Hum... Didn't like the very 'dubaiesque' tone of that video but it did give a decent preview of what should come in the future. Cheers for the link.

Amazing. I love it and hope it gets built soon. :cheers:

I loved Fosters design for the WTC and I really like this design! Simple, elegant, and classy. The best combination, X2!

My love of tall buildings and want for Europe to have more supertalls makes me hope these get built, yet my competitive nature makes me hope they wait till the UK has something taller :lol:.

Nice towers. Good one, Paris! :)

when are they planning to start the construction.:)?

late 2011 or early 2012 reportedly.

when are they planning to start the construction.:)?

Officially it's August 2011.

Vladimir Poutine a dit le 11 juin que Dmitri Medvedev ou lui-même assisterait à la pose de la première pierre, annoncée pour août 2011.

This will be amazing. With all of their magnificent new towers, Paris and London are in a fierce battle for the European skyscraper championship!

Have any tenants committed to the space?

the towers themselves look amazing, but the place they take up in the city is awful since its going to ruin the skyline of Paris. Specifically the La Defense skyline.

I don't understand how it can ruin the skyline of Paris (considering not only Paris but the suburbs around), because in this case any skyscraper would ruin it. It's better to have them in a CBD rather than in a flat zone.

But I agree the skyline between the Grande Arche in La Defense and the Arc de Triomphe will be quite affected... Especially because the future Tour Phare (300 m tall) will be hidden...

I guess the best skyline will be from the Eiffel Tower. But we would lose the view of la Grande Arche and the perspective of the avenue to Paris.

I don't understand how it can ruin the skyline of Paris (considering not only Paris but the suburbs around), because in this case any skyscraper would ruin it. It's better to have them in a CBD rather than in a flat zone.

But I agree the skyline between the Grande Arche in La Defense and the Arc de Triomphe will be quite affected... Especially because the future Tour Phare (300 m tall) will be hidden...

I guess the best skyline will be from the Eiffel Tower. But we would lose the view of la Grande Arche and the perspective of the avenue to Paris.

Because the normal view of La-Defense was from the older area of Paris, and when these towers will be built- they will be in front of most of the older skyscrapers, and due to their height they will hide them.
It's like taking a picture of a few people and putting the 2 tallest ones in front of the others.

The building permit application will be tabled very soon (late july), all the remainings families (in the current buildings due to be demolished) should be relocated by the end of this year. The foundation stone is to be laid by Vladimir Poutine or Medvedev in august 2011 indeed. There will be a viewing platform available around the 30th floor where the restaurant & pool will be. Iskenderov's team wanted to locate it there as it's according to them, the best place to make the most of the parisian panorama. Indeed no matter where you stand on this floor, the whole view over Paris will be accessible without pressing one's face to the window*.

Finally, Emin Iskenderov said they won't add anything on HP's roofs, no spire, no antenna & stuff like that, the roofs will only be perfectly cleaned (this way there won't be any pointless debate about their real height...:))

*To be honest with you, Iskenderov's explanation on this particular subject hasn't convinced me at all...I rather think that they deliberately refused to locate the viewing platform at the very top of the building to not DISTURB the future very well off residents who would have probably been put off by the incessant comings & goings of "tourists"...that's my opinion but I might be mistaken though. :)

Beautyful towers. Very tall and slender. :)

wow!!! I love it :drool: ..the sexy city of Paris deserves thousands of these towers..

Bring it on! :cheers2:

http://a.imageshack.us/img228/1492/piedhermitage.jpg (http://img228.imageshack.us/i/piedhermitage.jpg/)

magnifique projet, sa va donner un peu de hauteur à la défense

Work to start: summer 2011

Delivery: late 2015/early 2016

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/4227/hermitagetwintowers.jpg:bow:

^^ looks great, now we just have to sit back and wait for it to rise :)