The architectural dialogue imagined by Valode & Pistre Architects is now coming to life in La Défense, where the dense business district is making room for the 38-storey Tour Saint-Gobain. The office tower will soon house the headquarters of construction material manufacturer Saint-Gobain, which already has a presence in the skyscraper cluster just outside of Paris.

Rendering of the 38-storey tower, image via Valode & Pistre Architects

The glassy tower, piloted and financed by insurer Generali Group, will rise to a height of 165 metres. Above-grade installation began in early 2017 following the installation of the tower crane, and now, glazing has been spotted on the lower levels of the building. The sleek curtainwall system is accented by criss-crossing white bands, which will create a latticed pattern on all sides up the entire elevation of the building, until a sloped glass cube surmounts the boxy volume.

The rise of Tour Saint-Gobain, image by Forum contributor Vincent !

Tour Saint-Gobain's forecourt will feature a monumental staircase and two elevators that connects the city of Courbevoie to the elevated slab the district is built on. Public spaces and other links will also be created at the base of the tower. The development required the dismantling of the preexisting Iris building, which was located where the forecourt is planned. 

Tour Saint-Gobain construction, image by Forum contributor Vincent !

The airy tower, described by proponents as a "rhombohedron" for its crystalline diamond-like geometry, will be home to some 2,200 employees when it opens in mid-2019.

Glazing installation, image by Forum contributor Vincent !

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