La Défense, France
2017
Rehabilitation
Grande Arche
La Défense
At the far end of the great historic highway that runs right across Paris from the Louvre to La Défense and opens towards the greater west, the Grande Arche has earned its place in the history of architecture as an extraordinary work, expressing both the continuities of history and its perpetual renewal. The aim of this project was to restore the Arche to its original appearance.
Client
Program
Area
Planning
Client
Armaneo (Eiffage)
Program
Partial redevelopment of the Grande Arche, redevelopment of the south wall, roof and infrastructure
Area
63 000 m²
Planning
Competition
2013
Delivery
2017
The façades have been remade in order to make them airtight, and additional thermal insulation has been installed. The south façades have been fitted with solar protection, and the improved light transmission and natural lighting has enabled savings in electricity consumption. The installation of radiant ceilings and rainwater recovery systems also enables energy consumption to be reduced.
At its heart, the Arche accommodates major works of art, enmeshed in its architecture, which have been preserved. Jean Dewasne’s fresco, on the entire height of the landings, Jean-Paul Raynaud’s zodiacs in the four roof patios and Peter Rice’s “cloud” have thus been carefully restored.
As the monument accommodates extensive office spaces, this restoration was also an opportunity to provide users of the Arche with a more comfortable and congenial work environment, commensurate with the highest standards of La Défense. The reception areas have been refurbished, making them more open and luminous, and the office spaces have been rethought, notably where circulation is concerned.
The transparent walls can run alongside all the circulation routes, thus allowing natural light to penetrate to the heart of the Arche, right to the landings and lifts. On the work floors, the scalability and flexibility of the layout systems allow considerable freedom of configuration, from individual offices to open-plan.
Exhibition spaces and amphitheatres installed throughout the Arche’s roof, between sky and earth and laid out like an ethereal cloister, offer the general public time to reflect on the images, both topical and historical.
At the heart of the intense activity of La Défense, the Grande Arche has thus reclaimed its cultural mission and its openness to the general public.
At its heart, the Arche accommodates major works of art, enmeshed in its architecture, which have been preserved. Jean Dewasne’s fresco, on the entire height of the landings, Jean-Paul Raynaud’s zodiacs in the four roof patios and Peter Rice’s “cloud” have thus been carefully restored.
As the monument accommodates extensive office spaces, this restoration was also an opportunity to provide users of the Arche with a more comfortable and congenial work environment, commensurate with the highest standards of La Défense. The reception areas have been refurbished, making them more open and luminous, and the office spaces have been rethought, notably where circulation is concerned.
The transparent walls can run alongside all the circulation routes, thus allowing natural light to penetrate to the heart of the Arche, right to the landings and lifts. On the work floors, the scalability and flexibility of the layout systems allow considerable freedom of configuration, from individual offices to open-plan.
Exhibition spaces and amphitheatres installed throughout the Arche’s roof, between sky and earth and laid out like an ethereal cloister, offer the general public time to reflect on the images, both topical and historical.
At the heart of the intense activity of La Défense, the Grande Arche has thus reclaimed its cultural mission and its openness to the general public.
Gonesse Hospital