New tower to dominate Paris
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COMMENT, Paris – Paris is divided into: Old Paris, where all the buildings have consistent height, and often consistent or at least fitting facades.
Standing on level 5 of Georges Pompidou, you can see the whole of Old Paris, laid out before you. I did this last in April 2007, and was mesmerized.
And New Paris: Office district on the other side of Paris; La Défense. This modern office block tower district, is really an additional side to the old Paris not a central part of Paris.
The new 300 metre tower by Jean Nouvel is part of a bold ambitious plan to change this. The plan is to make La Défense, Manhattan-sur-Seine. A 24 hour, modern office district on the outside of Paris, potentially an alternate centre as an adjunct to the ‘old Paris’ of the Left Bank, Invalides and Notre Dame.
M. Nouvel is famed all over the world as an architect, since his 1987 project for the Institut du Monde Arabe and is the 2008 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate.
There is some concern over how this may effect Paris, and perhaps lead to an exodus of office rentals in Paris proper. But I believe the French will resolve this, as the competing forces and interests in Paris often negotiate compromise outcomes.
Modern French architecture in France has recently been eclipsed by some London, German and Catalan designs. This seems part of a practical plan to preserve the centre, yet modernize Paris.
Some related plans by the Mayor of Paris, include spreading the ‘mini-Manhattan’ theme, but given French activism and an entrenched coalition of opposition, these seem less likely.
In the end, a positive development for Paris, the city of Paris is ranked #3 in the world for innovation in the Global Innovation Review 2007, by 2thinknow.
Christopher Hire:
Author of the Global Innovation Review, and Chief Editor of this journal. Focussed on innovation, innovation cities and positive social change globally.
Great post