In the center of Paris, a skyscraper is planned to be built by Herzog & de Meuron

After more than 30 years, skyscrapers may start to be built in the center of Paris. The first of them will likely be a building designed by the Swiss studio Herzog & de Meuron named Projet Triangle, which is planned to rise above Porte de Versailles in southern Paris. The skyscraper, resembling a 180 m high glass pyramid, will contain 50 floors of offices for 5,000 people, cafes, restaurants, a conference center, and a hotel with a capacity of 400 beds. Upon its completion in 2012, it is expected to become the third tallest building in Paris, after the Eiffel Tower and Montparnasse Tower.
Since 1977, when Jacques Chirac was the mayor of Paris, it has been prohibited to build towers taller than 37 m in the core of the French capital (skyscrapers are, of course, built in La Defense, which is outside the center). This strict regulation was relaxed in July of this year, and it is anticipated that 20 new towers will be created. The removal of the height restriction was primarily driven by efforts to enhance the declining economic attractiveness of the metropolis. This controversial decision, which is opposed by 62% of the residents of Paris, was pushed through by the current mayor Bertrand Delanoë, and it is no wonder that many people refer to the first project as Delanoë Tower.

Photo: Herzog & de Meuron