Triangle Skyscraper Will Join Central Paris’ Skyline After Years Of Tribulations
Image via Herzog & de Meuron
The Parisian city center, as you recognize it, will take on a different silhouette, one reshaped by the height and crisp angles of the new 590-foot Tour Triangle.
The city might be home to some of the world’s most famous landmarks, but skyscrapers here are few and far between, Time Out points out. The last time central Paris (reluctantly) welcomed one was back in 1973, with the completion of Tour Montparnasse. Naturally, this incurred a great deal of criticism—which continues to this day—prompting officials to impose a ban on buildings taller than seven stories just two years after.
So you can imagine the public’s disdain when, in 2008, developer Unibail-Rodamco proposed to build a pyramidal tower in the area that would similarly vie with their view of the clouds. The idea was not only denounced by conservation advocates, but it also came into financing issues and lawsuits regarding a building permit.
Thankfully, those problems—save for the lingering public contempt—have been resolved, and the firm managed to convince an administrative court that its building permit is lawful, while securing financial backing by insurance company AXA, the Architect’s Newspaper reports.
Image via Tour Triangle
Architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron hopes to begin construction for the 43-story Tour Triangle this year. When ready, it will be the tallest building to join Paris since 1973, and will accommodate facilities like a hotel, offices, retail, a conference center, health and wellness businesses, and childcare.
Tour Triangle’s shape means it’ll appear differently at various vantage points—looking like a pyramid at certain angles and like a tall strip in others.
Image via Tour Triangle
While the skyscraper was initially planned for completion ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, its rough beginnings have pushed that date to sometime in 2026.
Image via Tour Triangle
Image via Tour Triangle
Image via Tour Triangle
[via Time Out, The Architect’s Newspaper, images via various sources]
