The Administrative Court of Paris has approved Paris’ first skyscraper since Montparnasse in 1973, set to be located in the city's south. [...]
The ambitious building was first rejected in late-2014, and subsequently approved after some modifications by the Council of Paris mid-2015 by a narrow majority.
— The Urban Developer
Herzog & de Meuron's controversial Tour Triangle project is back from a lengthy legal hiatus and will—now officially backed by court approval—start construction later this year.
First unveiled in 2008, the 42-story triangle-shaped skyscraper wasn't an immediate neighborhood darling, to say the least, and divided the city's public opinion on what the Paris of the future should look like for years. The design was initially rejected in 2014, then approved in the following year, and later held up in legal limbo again.
The 180 m (590 ft) tall tower will be the first skyscraper to be constructed in central Paris (outside of the La Defense business district) in almost half a century—46 years after the much-loathed Tour Montparnasse went up in 1973.
Reminds me of the Crystal Cathedral built for tee-vee preacher Robert Schuller in Garden Grove, Califirnia, that was designed by Philip Johnson. Later the 'Prayer Tower' (right side of photo) was added (don't know if Phil was involved there or not). Anyway the whole thing was sold to the Catholic Church when Schuller's enterprise went tits up. So, from one tee-vee preacher to another. And so it goes.
All 12 Comments
Looks like that will be the tallest and first modern building in Paris.
it will actually be the third tallest building in central paris, after the eiffel tower and tour montparnasse. all the tall buildings at la defense are a separate story.
the new yorker had an interesting discussion about paris with historian and architecture professor alexandre gady a few years ago:
“Paris, central Paris, is a finished city,” he says, meaning one not in need of improvement—but also, perhaps, one without a plausible future. A finished city, polished to a gloss, is also a finished city, incapable of new experience.
The City of Light no more. Alas. This is an absolute travesty that 'elevates' those two posers to a place they do not belong by any measure.
The only question now is which incompetent egotistic starchitect will be selected to ruin Notre Dame?
Sure sure, the 40 year old firm who won a P ritzker two decades ago is "elevated" by this project.
This shitty building is going to be positioned against world wonders such as The Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame (among others) in a city that has historically gone to great lengths to prevent exactly this from happening.
The Pritzker is less than irrelevant, it is largely a symbol of congratulatory excess that serves financial interests while ignoring vital social, cultural, and environmental concerns. The Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes has more integrity.
Aside from having already been elevated (Pritzker) way above their place, this puts these clowns on an even higher pedestal that don't deserve.
Maybe they should focus on the problems on the ground before they reach for the skies:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/ne...
https://twitter.com/leGneral2
hopefully the world will end before this breaks ground.
Reminds me of the Crystal Cathedral built for tee-vee preacher Robert Schuller in Garden Grove, Califirnia, that was designed by Philip Johnson. Later the 'Prayer Tower' (right side of photo) was added (don't know if Phil was involved there or not). Anyway the whole thing was sold to the Catholic Church when Schuller's enterprise went tits up. So, from one tee-vee preacher to another. And so it goes.
The steeple is a later addition to the complex and was designed by Philip Johnson.
Not a bad proposal for Notre Dame.
I would like to know what, if anything, has been done with the glass to protect birds on the wing. This building, unless the latest tech is used, will be a giant bird-killer.
Meh, birds are renewable.
audubon shill? I have a cat, she eats birds for fun.
yuck
Does this glass make me look fat? Which one is it? The first images look fat, then the 3rd image looks like it inhaled 50% for a nicer profile.
Finally, an apartment building where the top unit truly represents the 1%
+++ excellent observation
As Parisian born in the 80s, i sadly had the opportunity to witness first-hand the degradation of my city orchestrated by corrupt egomaniacal and tasteless officials.
Year after year more contemporary garbage litters the city and slowly turn more areas into soulless urban wasteland disconnected from people and the local culture.
The lack of clear design guidelines constraining developers and officials to exclusively build structures clearly relating to the national and local architecture style is to blame. This law should cover the whole territory and all types of buildings. They even have these local design guidelines in architectural wastelands such as los angeles so why it isn’t enacted in France is mind boggling.
I find truly saddening the current enthusiasm for the boring bland generic modern architecture rising quickly in most cities in the world. New mid or high-rise buildings in Paris or Atlanta are the same than in Guangzhou or Shenzhen. Cultural identities and esthetics are sacrificed on the altar of cost efficiency and modernity. Computer generated designs have replaced generations of ingenious architects who built recognizable and lasting beautiful European city centers adored by tourists and residents.
Many beautiful landmarks have been razed to give way to massive alienating and depressing developments such as Bibliotheque Francois Mitterrand, opera Bastille, la cite de la mode, le centre pompidou, la tour Montparnasse (& everything around), Philharmonie de Paris, la canopee des halles, place d’italie, universite de jussieu etc..
Despite their eye popping price tags most of them have decayed at fast pace requiring early ruinous retrofits and have proven to be an utter waste ( / embezzlement) of tax payers money. France is unfortunately still a highly dysfunctional democracy with little say for the local communities and endemic corruption.
worst building of all time? probably
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.