[Grumpy]

Check out this nice video presentation of the Parisian CBD

http://www.ladefense.fr/goodies.php

Press map :eek:

http://www.ladefense.fr/presse_dossier_presse.php

Optical renderings:

View from Paris - Arc de Triomphe:

http://img490.imageshack.us/img490/9062/arcdetriomphe1hb.jpg


View from Paris - Bois de Boulogne:

http://img490.imageshack.us/img490/685/boisdeboulogne4ik.jpg


View from Levallois (north-west of Paris):

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/1294/fromlp2ht.jpg

^^ You can see on the left the new AXA tower (CB31) after renovation. It's for sure much bigger than the 3 180m+ towers which are for now the highest in LD


View from Puteaux (South of La Défense):

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/7539/fromputeaux1ek.jpg

The 3 biggest towers (250 to 400 meters) will be build around the Grande Arch!


Last view, toward Paris city center:

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/4779/towardsparis8uo.jpg




Very promising isn't it :)

[Joka]

Niiiiice, ai lajk :tup:

[James Bond Agent 007]

Whoa, cool!!!!

[Fabb]

I wonder if the renovated AXA tower will look like the rendering in those "visions". It would be the first skyscraper with a spire in La Défense.

[Grumpy]

I wonder if the renovated AXA tower will look like the rendering in those "visions". It would be the first skyscraper with a spire in La Défense.

When is the renovation of AXA going to begin or are there no official plans yet?

[Fabb]

I'm not sure.
But I guess that the final plans are not finalized yet.

If the renovated tower is taller, it'll probably need approval. That' won't be easy because AXA is located at a very prominent site.

[Notts]

Very nice. Good for Paris. ;)

[Grumpy]

Posted by Fabb in another section on SSP ,

The renovated AXA Tower

http://static.flickr.com/35/117177822_3324c261c2_o.jpg

[LFRENCH]

thats killer!! I love La Defense already, with this there is soo much more to love.

[AJphx]

I saw a Jean Nouvel 200m tower mentioned in another thread. Whats the deal with that one? Any info?

[Grumpy]

the official scale modell

http://static.flickr.com/54/118020040_93d77aee7c_o.jpg

[Fabb]

Those renderings show relatively fat new skyscrapers. I'm a little surprised and I can't wait to see the first proposals.

[Grumpy]

I saw a Jean Nouvel 200m tower mentioned in another thread. Whats the deal with that one? Any info?

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6285/jn52xd.jpg

Still a mystery...it's on the J.Nouvel website however.

Another prosal:

Air Tower, 140 m (odd name for a LD tower)

http://static.flickr.com/40/121679768_b429ba0ac4_o.jpg

[Fabb]

Both are nice.
Of course, Nouvel's design is fantastic. Hopefully, it's not an older, failed project.

[Grumpy]

What is the story on the Méridien hotel ?

[Grumpy]

Sad to see no one is updating this thread....

[Fabb]

Well, the projects should have been released this month.
I'd be surprised if they came on time though.

[maleig]

merci grumpy

[Grumpy]

the T1 construction site a few days ago:

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g2/De_Snor/HPIM5908.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g2/De_Snor/HPIM5902.jpg

[Grumpy]

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g2/De_Snor/HPIM4728.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g2/De_Snor/HPIM4750.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g2/De_Snor/HPIM4751.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g2/De_Snor/HPIM4789.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g2/De_Snor/HPIM4794.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g2/De_Snor/HPIM4742.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g2/De_Snor/HPIM4795.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g2/De_Snor/HPIM4804.jpg

[Fabb]

Nice photos !
CBX looks like the big fat bitch behind Europe.
I'm glad it doesn't have a flat roof.

[Grumpy]

More info about the T1 construction site:

http://www.t1-defense.com

[Grumpy]

from an unusual angle

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/8555/2gparisladefensedsc04735a1280x.jpg

[Joka]

I've never thought of this before, I've always thought it was a monument.. Is Le Grande Arche an office building?

[Grumpy]

I've never thought of this before, I've always thought it was a monument.. Is Le Grande Arche an office building?

it is one office building with an exhibition floor on top :)

[Fabb]

I've never thought of this before, I've always thought it was a monument.. Is Le Grande Arche an office building?

It contains a public administration (ministère de l'aménagement) as well as officies and a big conference room under the roof.

[habsfan]

Comme qu'on dit en bon Québecois: TABARNAC!!!;)

Incroyable toutes ces nouvelles tours! avez plus de détails sur ces nouvelles constructions?

[Grumpy]

nice rendering from the completed tower in a few years:

http://www.t1-defense.com/v6.jpg

[Grumpy]

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/5476/capital082006ld2015ex5.jpg

[Grumpy]

T1 a few days ago , pictures from "eric"

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/2491/t124dut6.jpg

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/5739/t124fzs8.jpg

[Bergenser]

La Defence really deserves theese... :)

[misterdz16]

the defense and the 2nd European district of business after Frankfurt its truths?

[Grumpy]

the defense and the 2nd European district of business after Frankfurt its truths?

I guess London is the biggest business centre in Europe :dunno:

[jef]

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/5476/capital082006ld2015ex5.jpg

Ridiculous. They have just mimiced 30Ste Mary Axe and the Freedom Tower in this rendering.

[anm]

Ridiculous. They have just mimiced 30Ste Mary Axe and the Freedom Tower in this rendering.

Well, what can we do about it? Legend says that Ivan the Terrible ordered the eyes of the Basil's Cathedral architects poked so that they would never be able to create anything that rivals it. These days there are few if any restrictions on copycat designs...

[Phil]

the defense and the 2nd European district of business after Frankfurt its truths?

The biggest business districts in europe are the Opera district in Paris and the City of London; both around 7 million square meters.

La Défense is the biggest district of that kind in europe, with about 3 to 3.5 million square meters.

Oh, btw that (fake and inaccurate) rendering from the newspaper doesn't mimice 30 st mary axe, but T1 tower. :rolleyes:
Tho there's a freedom tower and a mini-burj dubai, but they're just there to represent what the district could look like in a few years. This is nothing official anyway, in case some people didn't get it...

[Minato Ku]

fortunately
I will not like La Defense with those building.
the mini-burj is in reality the renovation of the Tour Assur or Tour Axa (225 m ).

[Minato Ku]

Construction of T1 tower

cladding is arrived

http://perso.orange.fr/p2r92/Media/T1_04.09.2006.jpg
http://www.t1-defense.com/t1-29h.jpg
http://www.t1-defense.com/bat-c2-30a.jpg
http://www.t1-defense.com/t1-29c.jpg
http://www.t1-defense.com/t1-29j.jpg

Official Rendering of the T1 tower

http://www.t1-defense.com/accueil.gif

[Mazepa]

T1 tower is very nice, it adds a lot to the surroundings ^

[Metropolitan]

Here is another rendering on the renovated Tour AXA:

http://www.cogedim-entreprise.com/img/encours_gm/TOUR-CB31.jpg


And here is a diagram of the tower I've created for SSP:

http://mapage.noos.fr/marla13/diagramme_axa_pss_small.gif
larger version (http://mapage.noos.fr/marla13/diagramme_axa_pss_big.gif)

Unfortunately, I can't upload it yet to the SSP database. Apparently, diagrams of renovated towers can't be uploaded before the renovation has started. :(

[Fabb]

I can't wait for that one.
How long is the renovation supposed to last ?

[Grumpy]

The cladding of T1 is green ? yuck :shuffle:

[Grumpy]

some aerial pictures of LD:

http://lafrancevueduciel.free.fr/photos/highdef/6046.jpg

http://lafrancevueduciel.free.fr/photos/highdef/6052.jpg

please notice the strange curves on the roof of the Exaltis building:
http://lafrancevueduciel.free.fr/photos/highdef/6048.jpg

[dizo1000]

nice aerials!!!

[Grumpy]

Is this project : Hotel Méridien still alive ?

http://www.auralab.com/galerie01/hidef01.jpg

[Metropolitan]

Is this project : Hotel Méridien still alive ?Yeah it is. That building should be inaugurated in 2009, at about the same period as the inauguration of the renovated AXA tower.

This part of La Défense near the banks of the Seine should massively change in the next 10 years. There is a project to build a pedestrian bridge above the Pont de Neuilly which is thought as a direct extension of La Défense esplanade on the Avenue Charles-de-Gaulle in Neuilly-sur-Seine. In the same project, two highrise buildings of 150 m are proposed in Neuilly on the other side of the Seine.

The Axe Historique, starting at the Louvre and continuing through the Champs-Elysées, will really become something outstanding if everything goes well. The A14 motorway which is crossing La Défense underground should be connected to the périphérique with the project consisting in making the RN13 highway underground, below the Avenue Charles-de-Gaulle in Neuilly. That project will have as consequence to erase all disrupts on the Axe Historique, which will become something perfectly integrated from La Défense to the Arc de Triomphe (Pedestrian bridge between La Défense and Neuilly, reorganization of Porte Maillot).

[BenL]

Very impressive. From the aerial pictures it would appear that the immediate area around La Defense isn't quite as prosperous as the area around Canary Wharf with the swaves of yuppie flats that are going up. That said, go a couple of miles away and you're in the poorest area of London...

[Metropolitan]

Very impressive. From the aerial pictures it would appear that the immediate area around La Defense isn't quite as prosperous as the area around Canary Wharf with the swaves of yuppie flats that are going up. That said, go a couple of miles away and you're in the poorest area of London...I disagree, the immediate area around La Défense is actually very prosperous and very well-furnished. A lot more than around Canary Wharf. Granted few buildings of yuppies are built nearby CW, but that can't be compared with the old and rich municipalities of Courbevoie, Puteaux and Neuilly.

The only place in the immediate area around La Défense which isn't well built is Nanterre, right behind the Grande Arche. It used to be an industrial area. However, that's exactly the place where the major constructions are currently taking place. It's called "Seine-Arche" and consists actually in building a whole new district dedicated to business.

Canary Wharf is actually a lot more peripherical than La Défense is. I know that people are suspicious when they hear so because CW is in the Greater London when LD isn't located in the City of Paris, but you shouldn't be misleaded by the very different administrative organization of both cities.

La Défense is fully part of the dense core of Paris. The whole area between La Défense and the center of Paris is very densely built and consists exclusively of appartment buildings. A significant number of them being built as soon as during the 19th century. LD is located on the historical axis starting at the Louvre and continuing through the Champs-Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe. And that historical axis is currently extended further than La Défense with the new Seine Arche business district. At the opposite, CW is separated from the City of London by a wide area made of residential houses.

LD is clearly better located and better connected to the city center than is CW. As for the the immediate surroundings of both district, I would clearly like better to live in Courbevoie than in Greenwich.

[staff]

Paris will get a SWFC, a Freedom Tower, a SwissRe and a Burj Dubai dwarf? Cool! :)
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/5476/capital082006ld2015ex5.jpg

[brisavoine]

From the aerial pictures it would appear that the immediate area around La Defense isn't quite as prosperous as the area around Canary Wharf with the swaves of yuppie flats that are going up.
Actually, as Metropolitan already said, La Défense is located in a very wealthy area. Notably, it is located right across the Seine River from Neuilly-sur-Seine, which is one of the richest communities in Europe.

In any case, statistics are better than subjective points of view. Here are statistics I found. La Défense is surrounded by 3 communes (municipalities): Neuilly-sur-Seine, Courbevoie, and Puteaux. In absolute terms, the average monthly income for a resident household in Neuilly-sur-Seine is 6,250 euros (£4,230). Monthly I said. In Courbevoie, the average monthly income for a resident household is 2,537 euros (£1,717). In Puteaux it is 2,143 euros (£1,450). I don't think that you can seriously claim than an area where households earn on average between 2,143 and 6,250 euros per month is a destitute area.

Now in relative terms, in 2004 the median fiscal income for a resident household was:
- in Neuilly-sur-Seine: 2.3 times (i.e. 130%) above French average, and 91% above Île-de-France (Greater Paris) average
- in Courbevoie: 52% above French average, and 27% above Greater Paris average
- in Puteaux: 28% above French average, and 7% above Greater Paris average
Again, hardly a destitute area.

Note that all these statistics concern resident households, i.e. people who live in these three communes (municipalities) surrounding La Défense. They do not concern the companies located in the area.

[BenL]

Thanks for that. Interesting how appearances and initial impressions may mask reality - some of them looked a bit like British council estates really.

[Fabb]

Is this project : Hotel Méridien still alive ?

http://www.auralab.com/galerie01/hidef01.jpg

Still on :

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3575/dsc00887gq1.jpghttp://img526.imageshack.us/img526/2680/dsc00888gj9.jpg

But still no sign of construction at the site :

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/794/dsc00889fn7.jpg

[Grumpy]

thanks for the info , hopefully the design of the building is not going to be changed

[Fabb]

After the project has been approved, the design shouldn't be modified. If the construction starts shortly, which I hope, the design will definitely be the same.

Things won't go fast though. The delivery of the hotel is planned the 4th quarter of 2009.

[Grumpy]

The foundations are going to be a though case to realize , there is afterall the boulevard circulaire that is going underneath

[Fabb]

Right. It's going to be tricky. But the foundations won't be very deep. The hotel is supposed to have a height of "only" 82,7m.

[Minato Ku]

Rumour

Iris building (7 floors, near Gan Tower and the new Hotel Meridien ) would be demolished for build a 240 meters tower
The owner of this towers would be Generalli insurance

http://pix.nofrag.com/c6/b8/a39df5112586f33334bcf8c6a302.jpeg
http://www.defense-92.fr/photos/ph344.JPG

[Fabb]

How could they build this small building in the first place ! This is beyond me.
La Défense has focused too long on short term profit and the result is a bunch of mediocre low rises that use valuable locations.

[Metropolitan]

Here's the first rendering of the new Generali tower which is planned to be built behind Tour Gan. It is NOT the famous "tour Signal". Its height is supposed to be between 240 meters and 280 meters according to contradicting sources:

http://www.businessimmo.info/_img_upload/wbg_lettre/_users_utilisateur_desktop_une145.jpg


I have edited a picture to show how it could look like on the skyline. On that picture, the tower is about 280 meters, spire included:

http://mapage.noos.fr/marla13/generali.jpg

[BenL]

It strives to be iconic and it's certainly different. My view might change but I like it.

[Metropolitan]

It strives to be iconic and it's certainly different. My view might change but I like it.I share a similar feeling about it. For now, the rendering is very small and doesn't show well the tower in its context. I'm still a bit scared though that the tower will look too massive, but we don't have enough information yet to know whether this will be true. As we generally say, let's wait and see.

[Fabb]

For so long, LD has resisted the temptation to add spires to its skyline. Now, it'll get five at the same time.

[Mercutio]

I think it's a horrible design. I'm sure that this will not be the final design though. It's inefficient as well as ugly. Both the accountants and planners will object (I hope....).

[BXC]

Who designed that crap?

[Grumpy]

I need more renderings of that tower before I can judge it

[Fabb]

Who designed that crap?

Valode et Pistre. A local firm.
They're responsible for several recent towers in LD.

[Grumpy]

The future top 10 in Paris:

http://mapage.noos.fr/marla13/proposals_diagram.jpg

[WonderlandPark]

I really like it without the spire spire, just bring the corners up higher to get it back up to 280m.

[Fabb]

The corners are not practical. If they are to be used, then the elevator shafts will certainly be a problem.

[Metropolitan]

The corners are not practical. If they are to be used, then the elevator shafts will certainly be a problem.The corners aren't meant to be used. Floors should end at the bottom of the spire (approximately at 200 meters of height).

Apparently, the tower has been designed to reach the height of 308 meters.

[Grumpy]

how about this !

http://perso.numericable.fr/ydelavau/ykld/signal_jour.jpg

[Fabb]

^Almost too good to be true.

[Grumpy]

Look what Metropolitan made :

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

[Grumpy]

a nice rendering of Granite and the SG towers across the street:

http://www.paris-skyscrapers.com/newsite/photos/gra30.jpg

...but is there still a street under that pedestrien bridge ?

[KRIS6981]

The result of the contest for the Tower signal was given this morning.

LA DEFENSE : UNIBAIL LANCE UNE TOUR « PHARE » DE 130 000 M²
http://www.businessimmo.info/_img_upload/wbg_lettre/_users_utilisateur_desktop_morphosis.jpg
Dépêche n° 1298 - Lundi 27 novembre 2006

Le jury de la consultation internationale d’architecture lancée par Unibail, en concertation avec l’EPAD, a désigné le cabinet d’architectes Morphosis (Thom Mayne) lauréat de la consultation pour la conception de la tour « Phare » à La Défense, qui sera livrée en 2012.
Le projet se présente comme une tour monumentale de 300 mètres de haut, offrant près de 130 000 m² de surface utile. Il sera situé entre le Faubourg de l’Arche et le Cnit auquel il est directement relié.
Le montant de l’investissement sera supérieur à 800 M€, a indiqué Guillaume Poitrinal, Pdg d’Unibail.
http://www.businessimmo.info/pages/lettre/fiche.php?s_code=061127F1298&page=&lang=fr

http://www.20minutes.fr/img/photos/20mn/locales/20061127/vue-opus.jpg
source 20minutes.
http://www.20minutes.fr/articles/2006/11/27/20061127-Paris-Une-tour-phare-pour-La-Defense.php

[Fabb]

It's fat.
I'm afraid that it won't help the lack of soaring structures in La Défense.

[Mercutio]

^ I agree....

[yarabundi]

how about this !

http://perso.numericable.fr/ydelavau/ykld/signal_jour.jpg

What an ugly building. Parisians !! Do not allow this monstruosity to be built !!

[Grumpy]

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/792MorphosisDesignSecondParisSuperTall_pic1.jpg

[wjfox2004]

Too lopsided and amorphous for my liking.

[JMancuso]

What an ugly building. Parisians !! Do not allow this monstruosity to be built !!

yeah, that's pretty bad.

[Metropolitan]

Too lopsided and amorphous for my liking.Or you might better think, not enough located in London to your liking... ;)

[wjfox2004]

Or you might better think, not enough located in London to your liking... ;)
Why would I want this confusing, amorphous, oversized blob of metal in the middle of historic London?

[Newcastle Kid]

Or you might better think, not enough located in London to your liking... ;)

20 Fenchurch street is in London, and it is pretty much hated unanimously. If THAT had been proposed for Paris and Londoners said they hated it, then you would say it was because it was not proposed in London. The same for Beetham tower(which was 220m), and Doon Street Tower.

I rest my case.

[yarabundi]

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/792MorphosisDesignSecondParisSuperTall_pic1.jpg
On the other hand, this one is striking. If Paris doesn't want it, let's built it in Montréal !!

[-AX-]

^ Ça dépasse la montagne, inacceptable...

[KRIS6981]

Image captured from France3 news.
This is how the "tour signal" will look from the southwest.
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/6582/ld20124jh5.jpg

[Grumpy]

On the other hand, this one is striking. If Paris doesn't want it, let's built it in Montréal !!

Its about time thay get rid of the 233m limit :rolleyes:

[Fabb]

Image captured from France3 news.
This is how the "tour signal" will look from the southwest.
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/6582/ld20124jh5.jpg

Weird.
It's trying too much to be original.

[Metropolitan]

Weird.
It's trying too much to be original.I don't believe that profile represents the final design. When I compare it with renderings, it simply doesn't fit.

[Mercutio]

I'm sure the more artistic of you can do a better job but this is my reaction to this design: :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/Fatmonkey/ParisOldMan.jpg

[KRIS6981]

I don't believe that profile represents the final design. When I compare it with renderings, it simply doesn't fit.
I didn't understand at the beginning but the "fat" part of the tower is directed towards the catch of the render, on the front of the tower.

[Metropolitan]

I didn't understand at the beginning but the "fat" part of the tower is directed towards the catch of the render, on the front of the tower.Sorry, I'm not a native English speaker, I don't understand what you mean.

[Fabb]

Oh well.
Who cares.
After the initial infatuation, the big fans of this project have rapidly become silent.

That doesn't bode well for the future fame of this building. Surprising at first, boring a few minutes later.

[Metropolitan]

Here is a picture of La Défense nowadays:

http://irgendwo.free.fr/uneannee/2/5.jpg



And here are the projects we know of about La Défense by 2012:

http://grandparis.free.fr/upcoming-ladefense.jpg

[Grumpy]

that is impressive :hyper:

but , why are nearly all the new LD buildings (exept Granite) built on the right side of the Grande Axe ??

[Metropolitan]

that is impressive :hyper:

but , why are nearly all the new LD buildings (exept Granite) built on the right side of the Grande Axe ??That's just random. There's a 180 meters designed by Viguier which will be built near Ariane on the southern side. The Ministry of Public Works should also be above 200 meters on the southern side.

Actually, the Morphosis tower is built on the municipality of Puteaux, so there's absolutely no administrative barrier to build taller on the southern side.

As the Northern circular boulevard has been already re-designed, I guess it's easier to market towers nearby it. The southern circular boulevard will be re-designed later, and I guess taller towers will come then.

[Grumpy]

Take a look at this site where you can see T1 grow into the sky:

http://perso.orange.fr/p2r92/Pages/Page1TourT1.html

[Fabb]

It's almost as tall as Adria&Egée now.

[Grumpy]

I wonder if there is a place at LD where you can see both T1 and Granite, would love to have them on one picture