In the 1980s buildings had to meet new demands. Individual offices, natural lighting, energy savings, new technologies were being used. Third generation buildings came into being. Design: latemodern, some even postmodern.
Actually there is no typical third generation building. This period is known for its diversity of design. One of the best examples is the SCOR building with it's three "wings".
I think this is the best generation. The most beautiful buildings in La Défense were created. Furthermore, the designs showed the most variety.
For instance, these low to midrise buildings, (from left to right) SCOR, AGF Athena and Les Miroirs.
But also the two beautiful Total Final Elf-buildings (former Tour Total and Tour Elf). And let's not forget one of the most elegant buildings in LD, Tour Descartes.
The table below contains all buildings of 10 floors and more. Office and residential buildings.
| THIRD GENERATION BUILDINGS | ||||
| name | year | type | floors | height |
| Les Miroirs | 1981 | office | 16 | - |
| Pascal | 1983 | office | 27/18 | 95m |
| SCOR | 1983 | office | 15 | - |
| AGF Athena | 1984 | office | 22 | 100m |
| Minerve | 1984 | residential | 18 | - |
| Total Fina Elf (Michelet) | 1985 | office | 48 | 117m |
| Total Fina Elf (Coupole) | 1985 | office | 34 | 187m |
| Atochem | 1986 | office | 12 | - |
| Descartes | 1988 | office | 40 | 130m |
| Voltaire | 1988 | office | 23/19 | 82m |
| La Grande Arche | 1989 | office | 35 | 119m |
I consider La Grande Arche as the last building of this generation (though I am the first to admit that it is kind of arbitrary). Nevertheless this building is becoming one of Paris' landmarks and therefore it's a nice ending of the third generation.
Information sources:
[home]
- "La Défense, itineraries" (1989, EPAD)
- "La Défense, guide to the architecture" (1996, EPAD)
- http://www.ladefense.free.fr
- http://www.skyscrapers.com