A 1300-footer / 400-meter project in La Defense

[Cyril]

This is not a joke.

NANTERRE, 2 déc 2005 (AFP) –
The board of directors of the Public-owned establishment for the adjustment of La Defense (EPAD) validated the project of revival of the Parisian business district, with in particular the erection of a tower of almost 400 meters in height, presented Friday by his general manager, Bernard Bled. "Our project comprises the erection of a tower of almost 400 meters in height, a symbolic signal for foreign investors, as well as the construction of 850,000 square meters of offices by 2020 and the adjustment of new grid systems", exposed Mr. Bled to the AFP. According to Mr. Bled, this project should be examined in the next six months by the Minister of the Equipment. The 850,000 square
According tometers of offices will be distributed between 500,000 square meters of new offices and 350,000 square meters of offices rebuilt on grounds released by the adjustment of the southern part of the circular boulevard. "All these projects should attract nearly 50,000 people within twenty years: for this reason we proposed the financing of the extension of RER E line to La Defense ", explained Mr. Bled. In addition, Nicolas Sarkozy, chairman of the board of the EPAD announced Friday that the general council of the Hauts-de-Seine would deal with 50% of the deficit of exploitation, which rises to €1.6 million in 2005.
The EPAD was created in 1958 to develop the district of La Defense, which is located in the prolongation of the Champs-Elysées, and has built nearly 3.3 million square meters of offices where approximately 150,000 people work.

Source: AFP December 2, 2005, 20h30

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2006-03-08
EPAD Director Bernard Bled will take the opportunity of MIPI 2006 to unveil the new masterplan for La Défense (up to 2015).

As you already know maybe, at the MIPI, main cities highrise districts show/unveil their projects through models.

As for La Défense, a masterplan model with sites expected to host towers (the 400m tower being among them) is likely to be unveiled. Now we just know that 2 additionnal new towers could be 250m+. No architects chosen so far, I repeat, this will only be a masterplan.

The heavy redesign project of AXA tower by KPF will surely be unveiled though.
Anyway let's wait next week to have further actual news of it all.



2005-12-28
French financial newspaper Les Echos says that one or two 400m tall skyscrapers may be built in La Défense by 2020.

2005-12-21 : Bernard Bled said on France Culture radio that he expects the architecture bid to start in 2006 and the construction of the tower in 2010.

"Supertall could be built in the early 2010's" said EPAD Director Bernard Bled on French France 3 TV channel (12-6-2005)

We do not have any renders yet so far as an international architecture contest will be held in 2006-2007 to choose the project.
This 400-meter tall tower was rumoured over the last months. Now since yesterday, it's not a rumour anymore.
We already know that this tower will host some 150,000 Square meters of offices.

According to EPAD Director Bernard Bled, we should have further news about this project in a few weeks. Stay tuned!

[Skybean]

WOW. I can't wait for a render!

[mikep]

this should be interesting

[michal1982]

finaly paris show tha class

[The Mad Hatter!!]

not going to happen,although i think paris needs it,its incredible the nimbyism most french citizens have when its comes to highrises.

[mikep]

^but if its built with the other buildings in La Defense, then it shouldnt bother them but I guess theyll complain about shadows maybe

[Naga_Solidus]

C'est tres bien pour la republique! Vive la republique francaise!!! Je veux leur batir ce tour immediament! (I couldn't resist making a post in French, FTR it means that It's great for France and they should build it immediately)

[Pengui]

Originally Posted by The Mad Hatter!!

not going to happen,although i think paris needs it,its incredible the nimbyism most french citizens have when its comes to highrises.

That is understandable considering the number of 15-30 stories eyesores built in Paris and major french cities during the 60's and 70's :-)
I'm also skeptic on this project's chances of success but who knows... It's really time for La Défense to move on, now.

[Peter The Great]

No...effin...way...



I have high hopes...but sounds too good to be true.

[-Corey-]

But by 2020?

[Medo]

Hope it gets built!!!

Go Paris

[birminghamculture]

They said they want a 400m tower by 2020, by that time every major city should be surpassing that. I just hope its of top draw quality. I look forward to seeing it.

[pottebaum]

^No, they want an additional 850,000 square meters of office space by 2020. The tower itself would start construction in a couple years if approved, I'm guessing.

[Oriolus]

Wow, a supertall in Paris. Who would have thought. Great news though. Building a skyscraper taller then Eiffel Tower (324m) would be pretty controversial wouldn't it? La Defense is a long way from Central Paris isn't it? But still that's quite a psycological threshold.

[Cyril]

Originally Posted by pottebaum

^No, they want an additional 850,000 square meters of office space by 2020. The tower itself would start construction in a couple years if approved, I'm guessing.

yes that's it, this 400m project should be built by 2010 as far as we know.

[Nick]

Just what La Defense needs.The Grand Arch needs some tallies on either side to give it some perspective and balance

[malec]

I hope it's a revival of the tour sans fin

[Indica]

ya, I really liked the tour sans fin

[Cyril]

By the way, could some nice mod rename this thread to "Paris - La Défense: A 1300-footer / 400-meter project" Thank you

[ferrariguy]

go paris