Reach for the Paris Skyscrapers

Surrounded by skyscrapers while visiting Chicago this week reminds me of the battle the city of Paris faces against highrise buildings. One article in CNN.com titled “Will ‘monster’ tower destroy the romance of Paris?” from last July 2015 by Kieron Monks explores the city’s hatred for highrises. “Until 2010, no buildings over 36 meters tall were permitted in the city.”

In this way, Paris is decidedly different than Chicago! The Tour Montparnasse built in 1973 ruined it for the city of Paris as it is so unpopular that it is listed as one of the world’s ugliest buildings. Not only is it just a faceless black tower, and not only has it had serious asbestos problems, but it’s the only tower of its kind for many kilometers with the exception of the Eiffel Tower for which it completes. Just the idea of another one like it is so disdainful to the Parisians (62% opposed skyscrapers in principle) that the regulation couldn’t get amended until 2010 when the height restrictions were lifted.

Now finally under construction is the 42-floor, 180 meter-high “Tour Triangle” in the south west section of the city at the site of the Parc des Expositions de la Porte de Versailles. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, a Swiss agency known for the “Bird’s Nest” Olympic stadium in Beijing and the Tate Modern museum in London, it will be the tallest building in Paris built since 1973 — a glass pyramid with a trapezoid base. With 70,000 square feet of office space and leisure accommodations promising a creation of 3,000 jobs, the project was strongly supported by Mayor Anne Hidalgo. … (By comparison, Versailles has 720,000 square feet of space!)

Office space is not what Paris needs more of, argue some of the opponents. There is a lack of housing as well as problems with public transport they argue should be first addressed. In addition, the contemporary design is criticized for energy inefficiency, but proponents are claiming the creation of the jobs will make a real difference. Other skyscraper projects are in the works — a dozen more scheduled for construction, including one by famous French architect Jean Nouvel.

As might be expected, the naysayers abound. One architectural historian called it a “wasteful monster.” Fears of a “free-for-all” of towers built by greedy developers is one claim. Others believe it will have a negative social impact, pushing up property values and rents in the neighboring areas and of course, the fear of moving away from traditions and following in the footsteps of ‘old enemies’ — such as London.

With five days under our belts visting the Windy City so famous for it’s stunning skyscrapers, which were in essence a response to the famous 1871 fire that destroyed 3.3 square miles of the city, I beg to differ with the naysayers in Paris who fear this kind of progress. Construction all around Chicago abounds — a clear indication of progress.

In 1860 when Baron Haussmann began to raze 20,000 buildings in order to realize his plan to create wide connecting boulevards and build modern apartment buildings to house more people with proper sanitation, the controversy must have been overwhelming. He had foresight where others did not.

It is time for Paris to come of age, “n’est-ce pas?” How will Paris compete on the world stage without finding a way to move UP, since moving OUT is near to impossible? And what is wrong with pushing property prices up — meaning profits will be made injecting badly needed funds, tax revenues and resources into the economy? And what’s so bad about following in the footsteps of London? Last I heard, there were over 500,000 French living in London where there are jobs and opportunity.

A bientôt,

Adrian Leeds
The Adrian Leeds Group

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P.S. Tonight I am speaking at a 13,000 square-foot mansion at 9818 Old Preston Hollow, Dallas, Texas — sponsored by Candy Evans of Candy’s Dirt…a special Staff Meeting and Open House at one of Dallas’ most luxurious homes. I will be available throughout the event to speak with attendees on an individual basis. It begins at 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit adrianleeds.com/events/conferences