Paris is about to get its first architecturally significant tall building in a decade and a half:
Morphosis, the Los Angeles architectural firm headed by 2005 Pritzker prize-winner Thom Mayne, have sent us images of their competition-winning tower for the La Défense business district in Paris.The design, called the “Phare” (beacon), was declared the winner of the architectural contest on Friday 24 November. At 300 metres high, the 68-storey tower will be slightly shorted than the 320m Eiffel Tower when it is completed in 2012.
This is to be a mark of French chic, culture, progress. A beacon of the French culture. And what’s the architectural inspiration for the building? What is the aesthetic that has been chosen to embody France in steel and glass? Over again to Josh Stein at Gridskipper:
Reclaiming its place as an architecturally forward city, Paris just announced the winner of the contract to build a hulking office space at La Defense. The tower, when it is completed in 2012, will rival the Eiffel Tower in height and in sheer looking-forwardness finds its closest ally in the gentle curves of the Institute of the Arab World.
But hey, probably nothing to worry about. It’s not like Josh knows anything about architecture. Or like he’s the editor of Gawker Media’s Travel and Architecture blog of anything.
Previously: French Delusions of Grandeur May Yet Cause International Incident, France – How Did It Come To This?, France Identifies the Real Threat To the Lebanon Ceasefire: Israel.
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