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Internationally acclaimed architect Daniel Libeskind has won top spot in a recent French design competition, with a proposal to build what will soon become the first skyscraper in Toulouse, the ancient capital of Occitanie in Southern France known more for its historic streetscapes than modern glass towers. Known as the Occitanie Tower, or Tour Occitanie to locals, the 150-metre, 40-storey office tower will rise from the heart of the city's business district, located just outside the city centre adjacent to the main railway station.
Featuring a glass crystalline wrap, the exterior of the tower appears to twist upward into the sky. Its folds are set to become home to a continuous spiral of greenery, the vision of landscape architect Nicolas Gilsoul. Designed to reflect the unique pink architectural hue of Toulouse's historic terracotta architecture, from which the city has gained its reputation as La Ville Rose, the Occitanie Tower's abstract appearance will be tempered by this subtle nod to the city's past, while the green spiral will help bring the structure back down to earth.
Occitanie Tower will bring 11,000 square metres, or nearly 120,000 square feet, of modern office space to Toulouse's business district, along with space left over for a hotel, 120 rental apartments, a restaurant with panoramic views, retail, and separate ground-level offices for French national rail company SNCF.
At street level, Occitanie Tower will have an unmistakable presence; its height alone, to say nothing of its distinctive design, will make it a truly standout structure on the Toulouse skyline. Slated for completion by 2022, Toulouse's first foray into the realm of modern skyscrapers will set a high bar, as Occitanie Tower will inject a great deal of abstract architecture into the heart of one of France's most historic provincial capitals.
SkyriseCities will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.
