ctbuh.org/papers Title: Developing Skyscraper Districts: La Défense Author: Maria Scicolone, Architect, EPADESA Subject: Urban Design Keywords: Adaptability Urban Planning Publication Date: 2012 Original Publication: CTBUH Journal, 2012 Issue I Paper Type: 1. Book chapter/Part chapter 2. Journal paper 3. Conference proceeding 4. Unpublished conference paper 5. Magazine article 6. Unpublished © Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat / Maria Scicolone Developing Skyscraper Districts: La Défense “The development of La Défense is based on infrastructural principles which are considered to have contributed significantly to shaping its singularity and its remarkable image.” Maria Scicolone Given their historic context, European city centers are often not considered to be suitable Author locations for the development of modern tall buildings. Therefore, a number of cities chose to Maria Scicolone, Architect develop a purpose-built business district away from the city center, and often close to nodes Management of the Urban Strategy L’Etablissement public d’aménagement de La Défense of infrastructure. La Défense, located in the west of the Paris Metropolitan Region, is the Seine Arche (EPADESA) largest of these business districts in Europe. Initiated in 1958, La Défense has witnessed over Tour Opus 12 Esplanade Sud-Quartier Villon fifty years of development. This paper discusses the origins of the development; the forces 77 esplanade du Général de Gaulle which have influenced it; how development has been managed; and what the vision is for 92914 Paris La Défense Cedex France future development. t: +33 1 4145 5886 f: +33 1 4145 5900 La Défense housing. 180,000 people are employed in the e:
[email protected] area, and 20,000 people live in it.