PARIS | Projects & Construction

[brisavoine]

IMPORTANT: The list below has been updated. Check post #961 for the updated version.

With all the different announcements in the past weeks, I thought it was time to make a general summary of skyscrapers u/c or planned in Paris, preceded by the number of skyscrapers already built, for perspective.

As of the end of March 2006 (see post #961 for the updated list as of the end of April 2007):
*12 skyscrapers above 150 m (492 ft) in La Défense and city proper: already built (note: the figure does not include Eiffel Tower)
*two 180 m (590 ft) skyscrapers in La Défense: under construction (due to be completed in 2007)
*renovation of the 159 m (522 ft) Axa Tower due to be turned into a 220 m (720 ft) skyscraper: renovation starts in 2007
*two 165 m (541 ft) skyscrapers in Levallois-Perret: approved, construction due to start soon
*one 400 m (1,300 ft) skyscraper in La Défense: proposed (approval due by June 2006)
*one 300 m (1,000 ft) skyscraper in La Défense: proposed (approval due by June 2006)
*three to four skyscrapers in the 200 - 250 m (650 - 800 ft) range in La Défense: proposed (approval due by June 2006)
*one 200 m (650 ft) skyscraper by architect Jean Nouvel in La Défense: proposed

All projects are due to be completed by 2015, at which time Greater Paris would have 21 to 23 skyscrapers above 150 m, including the tallest skyscraper in western Europe (400 m), announced as the "signal" tower of the renovated La Défense.

If the center-right win the 2008 Paris municipal election, building of skyscrapers in the city proper may also be forthcoming. Paris opposition leader, Françoise de Panafieu, said she supported the building of tall skyscrapers on the fringes of the historical center, at the moment hampered by opposition from the Green Party, a key partner of the curent center-left municipal coallition ruling the city.

[TampaMike]

I think we already have a link of all projects in Paris.

[brisavoine]

No, the other link is La Défense only, not the projects outside of La Défense.

[Sanchez]

why is paris building skyscrapers when Frances economy is in such a mess

[Mekky II]

Originally Posted by Sanchez

why is paris building skyscrapers when Frances economy is in such a mess

Economy of France does actually better that the one of UK, so why not ? Also, french companies were never so high in the CAC40 and never had to much profits and funds, so they invest a little...

[HD]

apart from that....japan's economy has been stagnating for over a decade, yet they still built tons of skyscrapers...

(and actually britain isn't doing that good compared to france or germany anymore...so much for strong or weak economies)


the list is very impressive. looks like europe's best (or second best?) skyline could get even better very soon. I always thought la defense needs two or three buildings over 200m or even 300m to get perfect...looks like it may happen.

[eklips]

Yeah, good news, now it all depends on how architects are going to design those buildings, they can either ruin or make it one of the best skylines in Europe!

[brisavoine]

Originally Posted by Sanchez

why is paris building skyscrapers when Frances economy is in such a mess

With globalisation, world cities like Paris are largely disconnected from their host country's economy. So it doesn't really matter what's the shape of the French economy. As long as the world economy is growing, so will Paris's economy.

Also, let's remember that the total amount of office space in Paris is simply enormous, and all the skyscrapers u/c or proposed will represent only a very small increase of that total office space.

According to the latest figures (March 2006), there are currently 49 million square meters (527 million square feet) of office space in the Paris metropolitan area, a figure higher than even in Greater London. If all the skyscrapers highlighted above are built, they will contain a total office space of approximately 0.5 million square meters (5.4 million square feet) according to official projections from La Défense Authority. So all these skyscrapers would account for a very modest 1% of the total office space in Paris.

Furthermore, in the next 9 years it is estimated that approximately 5 million square meters (54 million square feet) of office space will be built in the Paris metropolitan area (0.5 million will be skyscrapers, 4.5 million will be lowrise and midrise). In other words, the skyscrapers highlighted above are just one tenth of the total office space that will be built in the next 9 years. So it looks like there's nothing particularly extravagant about La Défense Authority and other Parisian municipalities deciding to build all these skyscrapers. Their visual impact, however, will be far more dramatic on Paris skyline than their meager 1% share of the total office space would suggest.

I hope this helps put things in perspective.

[Jue]

Originally Posted by Sanchez

why is paris building skyscrapers when Frances economy is in such a mess

France's economy isn't in a mess. Yes, the government is trying to improve it, and stubborn unions want to maintain high unemployment, but that means little. France has been outperforming both the UK and Germany recently.

[Biakko]

Originally Posted by Sanchez

why is paris building skyscrapers when Frances economy is in such a mess

Why do not you just look at yourself, with your 17% poverty ? Do not try to teach things you ignore...

[bnmaddict]

Originally Posted by Biakko

Why do not you just look at yourself, with your 17% poverty ? Do not try to teach things you ignore...

That's a useless comment, we certainly don't need a fight in this thread, so keep cool...

[Cyril]

The more global cities are, the bigger amount of offices they will get.
But Paris is not as disconnected from its country as, say a city like London.
London is more global and is very likely to get more offices.
Furthermore Paris metro area still has a high unemployment rate, as high as France national unemployment rate. London metro area is still very thriving.
Paris city might have to build skyscrapers eventually if it does not want La Défense to be the true business centre of the whole metropolis, but as for now, Paris city (its western part at least) is still clearly the CBD of the Greater Paris.

[Manuel]

Originally Posted by Mekky II

Economy of France does actually better that the one of UK, so why not ? Also, french companies were never so high in the CAC40 and never had to much profits and funds, so they invest a little...

Since when?
2005 GDP growth:
France : 1.2%
UK : 1.8%

[Electron]

Originally Posted by Manuel

Since when?
2005 GDP growth:
France : 1.2%
UK : 1.8%

France : 1.4% .. bad enough

[Manuel]

Originally Posted by Cyril

The more global cities are, the bigger amount of offices they will get.
But Paris is not as disconnected from its country as, say a city like London.
London is more global and is very likely to get more offices.
Furthermore Paris metro area still has a high unemployment rate, as high as France national unemployment rate. London metro area is still very thriving.
Paris city might have to build skyscrapers eventually if it does not want La Défense to be the true business centre of the whole metropolis, but as for now, Paris city (its western part at least) is still clearly the CBD of the Greater Paris.

Ile De France has performed even more badly than the rest of France in the last decade.
London has outperformed almost consistently the UK growth rate during the same period, peaking at 5-6% a year.
The growth trajectory of the 2 capital cities has diverged sharply.

I dont think Greater London will build as much office space as the Ile de France region in the next decade. Two reasons :
- GL is much smaller than IDF
- The average space per office worker in GL is lower than IDF due to the higher occupancy costs.

Last point, Central London is supposed to concentrate a large chunk of the planned office development in the Greater London area, roughly some 8m m².

[Manuel]

Originally Posted by Electron

France : 1.4% .. bad enough

I though it was revised down with the dissapointing end of the year.

[bnmaddict]

Yeah, yeah... Who cares? This thread is about skyscrapers projects in Paris-IDF! Why don't you open a new thread "Paris economy is shit and London is great" in the skybar (or UK skybar), rather than polluting this thread???

[Phil]

Originally Posted by virtual

Yeah, good news, now it all depends on how architects are going to design those buildings, they can either ruin or make it one of the best skylines in Europe!

Well, It's already one of the best skylines in Europe

[Frogeater]

Generally global cities are in Anglosaxon countries. Because they have always won any war.

[bnmaddict]

Originally Posted by Frogeater

Generally global cities are in Anglosaxon countries. Because they have always won any war.