The tallest building in Paris?

April 17, 2007

After 120 years, the Eiffel Tower is threatened to lose its title as the tallest structure in Paris. The Californian architect Thom Mayne (winner of the 2005 Pritzker prize) envisioned a new office block in La Defense district, that will be 300m high, only 20 cm smaller than the famous tower. This sky-scraper project, along with other high-rise buildings, which will be constructed in the next years, will revitalize the business district, making it able to compete with the new business quarters in Amsterdam, Moscow and Madrid.

The “Phare” (lighthouse) tower is a gently sloping glass structure, with a daring organic form. The curving façade it’s actually designed to minimize solar overheating. And this is not all, the building ends with a complex of wind turbines that insure part of the electrical power needed. A challenging structure that will provide 130.000 square meters to be used not only for office spaces but also for gardens, a 60m high atrium, cafes, shops plus an observation deck and a restaurant with an overwhelming view. At the lower level of the building will provide pedestrian links between the underground hub and the surrounding area.