[brisavoine]

The French government gave its official approval to La Défense development project on Tuesday last week. Now that some details of the project approved by the government are known, and after after months of news from other local councils, I think it is time to make an updated general summary of skyscrapers u/c or planned in the Paris area, preceded by the number of skyscrapers already built, for perspective. Only towers taller than 150 m (492 ft) are listed.

As of the end of July 2006:

*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)

*two 165 m (541 ft) skyscrapers in Levallois-Perret: approved (construction due to start this summer and to be completed and opened by June 2009)

*renovation of the 159 m (522 ft) Axa Tower in La Défense due to be turned into a 225 m (738 ft) skyscraper (perhaps 275m/902ft with its antenna): approved (renovation starts in 2007 and should be completed by 2009)

*one so-called "tour signal" ("iconic tower") in La Défense. Height should be around 300 m (1,000 ft). 400 m (1,300 ft) height abandoned for now. May rebound after the presidential election in May 2007. Status: approved (architect contest launched, renderings due perhaps as early as this coming October)

*one 80,000 m² (860,000 sq. ft) skyscraper in La Défense for the Ministry of Transportation and Public Works. Height should be around 200 m (650 ft). Status: approved (due to be completed and opened by 2009-2010)

*around three skyscrapers in La Défense containing 300,000 m² (3.2 million sq. ft) of office space. The "tour signal" may be one of these three skyscrapers, and the ministry skyscraper may not, but this is not known for sure. Each of these three skyscrapers will contain on average almost as much office space as the 310 m (1,018 ft) U.S. Bank Tower in downtown Los Angeles. Status: approved (due to be completed and opened by 2013)

*8 or 9 skyscrapers containing 475,000 m² (5.1 million sq. ft) of office space to be built in La Défense in replacement of 8 or 9 old towers to be demolished. Heights should be between 150 m (500 ft) and 250 m (800 ft). Status: approved (due to be completed and opened by 2013)

*two 180 m (590 ft) skyscrapers in Issy-les-Moulineaux: proposed (approval due by the end of this year)

*one so-called Hypergreen Tower, 246 m (807 ft) tall, in Issy-les-Moulineaux: proposed (approval due by the end of this year)

*two 160 m (525 ft) skyscrapers in Neuilly-sur-Seine: proposed

*local council in Saint-Denis let it know it's planning skyscrapers in the new business district built near the Stade de France

*local council in Bagnolet let it know it's planning skyscrapers along the Périphérique freeway

*local council in Saint-Ouen let it know it's planning skyscrapers

By 2013, when all skyscrapers are completed, Greater Paris will have between 27 and 35 skyscrapers above 150 m (492 ft) (not counting possible skyscrapers in Saint-Denis, Bagnolet, and Saint-Ouen).

I think with this impressive list it's undeniable Paris is right there on top with the world cities building most skyscrapers at the moment. The coming months and years should be quite exciting, as more renderings are made public and projects take shape. Stay tuned.