The turn Phare is a project of Gratte-ciel of offices in the district of businesses of Defense with Courbevoie (Hauts-de-Seine, France). The Phare tower should be approximately 300 meters high and respect criteria of the Sustainable development. Conceived by the American Architect Thom Mayne, the tower is characterized by its organic aspect , all in curved lines. It must be the architectural symbol of the revival of Defense.

History of the project

The project of a building likely to symbolize the revival of Defense was officially announced on July 25th, 2006 by Nicolas Sarkozy and Dominique Perben in the revival program of Defense. EPAD launched a contest of architecture 2006 for a supposed construction to be completed from here 2013. The deadline of handing-over of the projects was fixed at October 2nd, 2006 for a deliberation of the jury envisaged the 23 and November 24th, 2006.

Ten architects were selected for the final stage of the contest:

• Norman Foster

• Jacques Ferrier
• Massimiliano Fuksas
• Manual Gautrand
• Herzog & of Meuron
• Rem Koolhaas
• Thom Mayne
• Nicolas Michelin
• Jean Nouvel
• Dominique Perrault

Unibail, the organizer of the consultation of architect, revealed the project gaining on November 27th, 2006.

Description

The project includes/understands two bodies of buildings:

• a central building, “the Tower”

• a trapezoidal building, “the Trapezoid”.

These two bodies can possibly be joined together in only one, approximately 143.000 m ² and 135.000 m ² of surface SHON.

Estimated planning

• Studies of January 2007 to January 2008

• Deposit of the permit building in June 2007
• Duration of the work estimated at 48 months as from July 2008.