Paris - La Defense

First generation buildings

The first layout plan was approved in 1964. The plan called for uniformity: low residential buildings with square interior courtyards and identical tower blocks with a 42 by 24m base and a height of 100m. Buildings of this kind were constructed in the late 1960s and early 1970s (roughly 1964-1973).

The first building was the Esso Building, completed in 1963. This was the only building which is owned by the firm that occupies it. Furthermore, it was not linked to the pedestrian mall. Some thirty years after it was built, demolition took place and on the area of the Esso Building now rises the Coeur Defense building.

Other first generation buildings are: Roussel-Hoechst, Septentrion, Winterthur, AIG, Atlantique, Aurore, Credit Lyonnais, EDF-GDF, Europe, Franklin.

The tower blocks were designed as rather plain boxes. The designs are not very inspiring, but straightforward buildings. Typical international style-like.

Below is a table with buildings of the first generation. Blue underlined buildings have their own page with comment or just pictures.

FIRST GENERATION BUILDINGS

name year type floors height

Résidence Boieldieu 1965 residential 11/4 -

AIG Aquitaine 1967 office 27 99m

Roussel-Hoechst/Nobel 1967 office 34 109m

Europe 1969 office 28 99m

Atlantique 1970 office 27 95m

Aurore 1970 office 29 110m

EDF/GDF 1971 office 32 110m

Franklin 1972 office 33 120m

Résidence Louis Pouey 1972 residential 16 -

Europlaza/Septentrion 1972 office 31 123m

Crédit Lyonnais 1973 office 25 95m

Vision 80 1973 residential 14/7 -

Winterthur 1974 office 33 119m

Overview 1
The three buildings in the middle from left to right are: Europe, American International and Aurore. The smaller Esso Building is under demolition (click on the picture to get a larger one).
To the left the former Tour Septentrion is partly visible. This building is taller than the other ones.

Overview 2
Visible are: Credit Lyonnais, Atlantique, Franklin and Winterthur.

Information sources:
- "La Défense, itineraries" (1989, EPAD)
- "La Défense, guide to the architecture" (1996, EPAD)
- http://www.ladefense.free.fr
- http://www.skyscrapers.com

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FIRST GENERATION BUILDINGS
name	year	type	floors	height
Résidence Boieldieu	1965	residential	11/4	-
AIG Aquitaine	1967	office	27	99m
Roussel-Hoechst/Nobel	1967	office	34	109m
Europe	1969	office	28	99m
Atlantique	1970	office	27	95m
Aurore	1970	office	29	110m
EDF/GDF	1971	office	32	110m
Franklin	1972	office	33	120m
Résidence Louis Pouey	1972	residential	16	-
Europlaza/Septentrion	1972	office	31	123m
Crédit Lyonnais	1973	office	25	95m
Vision 80	1973	residential	14/7	-
Winterthur	1974	office	33	119m

Overview 1 The three buildings in the middle from left to right are: Europe, American International and Aurore. The smaller Esso Building is under demolition (click on the picture to get a larger one). To the left the former Tour Septentrion is partly visible. This building is taller than the other ones.
	Overview 2 Visible are: Credit Lyonnais, Atlantique, Franklin and Winterthur.