From every corner of the globe, an estimated 8 million visitors flock to Paris every year to marvel at architectural wonders such as Notre Dame, the Louvre museum or the world-famous Eiffel Tower. Yet, few tourists extend their cultural visit to take in what is frequently referred to as "the world's museum of modern architecture" - La Défense - Europe's largest business district.
This Manhattan-like area in the west of Paris is divided into 12 sectors and covers an area over 400 acres. It is the home to the city's Grande Arche and the tallest high-rise buildings which house over 1,500 businesses and 150, 000 employees.
In an attempt to stay competitive with rival European cities such as London and Milan, a revival project for La Défense was begun in 2006. The project focuses on regenerating outdated skyscrapers, the construction of new buildings, ensuring a better balance between offices and residential housing and improving the commute for employees to and from their place of work. The target for the development of the area extends to 2015.
On the list of priorities for the modernisation of the area, is a commitment from the organisation responsible for the project; Etablissement Public d’amènagement de la Défense (EPAD) to incorporate sustainable guidelines into the design of the new buildings. The planned projects respect the latest environmental standards put in place by the EU and will prove more economical and more environmentally friendly.
Construction green lights were granted for several key 300-320 metre (980 to 1,000 ft) tall ‘sustainable’ skyscrapers such as Tour Generali, Tour First, Tour Phare and the Tour Signal, designed by award-winning French architect Jean Nouvel. These architectural giants could pave the way for greener, more sustainable design standards in the building construction and business centres in Europe and further afield. The ambitious plans for La Défense could be the example others will emulate in future, maybe even Manhattan?
60% more energy-efficient than a conventional skyscraper
The 312-metre high Tour Generali, proposed by the Generali Insurance Company, for example, aims to emit just 500 tonnes of CO2 per year, 70% less than a conventional tower. It will recover and recycle rainwater and will be equipped with 400m² of photovoltaic cells, 800m² of solar panels and 18 axial wind turbines on site to produce energy. Overall, it will be 60% more energy-efficient than a conventional skyscraper.
The Tour Phare is a planned 300-metre-tall skyscraper designed as a green building. The curvature of the tower will allow for a bouquet of wind turbines to be installed on the roof. According to its designer Tom Mayne, it will be "a prototype for a green building" with a wind farm generating its own heating and cooling for five months of the year.
The Tour First, one of the many reconstruction projects, will be the first in France to obtain the standard High Environmental Quality (HQE). It will utilise the exterior air circulation and the heat from the sun for heating and cooling of the building. Its bioclimatique façade, made up of double-glazed windows will help to maintain a moderate interior temperature, which will further reduce the buildings dependence on traditional heating and cooling.
The Tour Signal will become the symbol of the modernisation of La Défense. This 301-metre-tall structure, through a combination of solar panels, wind turbines and mirrors integrated with windows, according to Jean Nouvel, should not exceed 50 kWh per square meter per year of energy consumption.
We have created a way of life that is dependent on economically healthy business. As our businesses continue to flourish, it is our responsibility to ensure business practices work in concert with our attempt to improve the quality of our environment. These buildings provide a few examples of what could and should become the global trend in construction. One of the pillars of sustainable development is the conservation of natural resources. At the very least, these projects aim to do that, and more.
image taken from: www.linternaute.com/.../la-defense-2015/1.shtml
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