Paris’ Green Generali Tower to Rule La Defense
by Haily Zaki
No, we’re not breaking news about an eco-revolt in Paris, but the Generali tower designed by international firm Valode & Pistre definitely marks a coup for sustainable design. Slated for completion in 2012, the soaring new office tower will incorporate an unprecedented level of environmental systems and features, and represents the culmination of EPAD’s modernization campaign to make La Defense one of the most remarkable business centers in Europe. The renewed business district will be known both for its economic grandeur as well as it environmental and architectural progressiveness.
Officially initiated in 2006, the Generali Tower will be built by developer Vinci Immobilier in conjunction with the Group Generali. With sustainability at the heart of the architectural design, the new tower is meant to enhance its occupant’s comfort while reducing energy consumption.
The tower will feature operable windows and suspended gardens at all levels. 18 vertical axis wind turbines, 1,700 sq m of photovoltaic cells, and 600 sq m of solar panels located on the tower’s central spire will provide the structure with a renewable source of energy. The 90,000 sq m (nearly 1 million sq ft ) structure will house various facilities including an auditorium, club lounges, numerous restaurants, and a nursery. With all these auxiliary facilities, the Generali is expected to greatly contribute to the urban renewal of the La Defense business district.
The Generali’s slim silhouette will add a new, green landmark to the Paris skyline, already home to the most skyscrapers of any metropolitan area in the European Union. Coming in at 318 meters tall, the Generali may not unseat the Eiffel Tower’s 324 meters, but the sustainable skyscraper will rule La Defense and be lauded as one of the tallest, and more importantly, greenest buildings in the European Union.
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