La Grande Arche, Paris, France
Posted by: Dáin & Olík
N 48° 53.566 E 002° 14.150
31U E 443987 N 5415817
La Grande Arche de la Défense (also La Grande Arche de la Fraternité) is a monument and building in the business district of La Défense and in the commune of Puteaux, to the west of Paris.
Waymark Code: WMA9FK
Location: France
Date Posted: 12/08/2010
Views: 37
A great national design competition was launched in 1982 as the initiative of French president François Mitterrand. Danish architect Johann Otto von Spreckelsen (1929–1987) and Danish engineer Erik Reitzel designed the winning entry to be a 20th century version of the Arc de Triomphe: a monument to humanity and humanitarian ideals rather than military victories. The construction of the monument began in 1985. Spreckelsen resigned on July 1986 and ratified the transfer of all his architectural responsibilities to his associate, French architect Paul Andreu. Reitzel continued his work until the monument was completed in 1989.
The two sides of the Arche house government offices. The roof section, exploited by Stephane Cherki, is an exhibition centre. The vertical structure visible in the photograph is the lift scaffolding.
Views of Paris are to be had from the lifts taking visitors to the roof. But after a non-injury accident in the elevators in April of 2010, the Department of Ecology, owner of the roof of the Grande Arche, has decided to permanently close the computer museum, restaurant, and viewing deck. Access to the roof is still possible via the elevators in the north and south walls, but they are closed to the public.
(wikipedia)
Building Address: La Defense Paris, France
Is it open to the general public?: no
When was it built? (Approximate if you must.): 07/01/1989
What is the name of this building?: La Grande Arche
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