La Grande de Arch, La Defense - Construction

Grand de Arche is located at the La Defense business district. The building  is the result of international design competition launched in 1992, the initiative of  French president Franois Mitterrand. Danish architect Johann Otto Von Sprecklesen won the design competition in his entry  to create the 20th century version of the Arc de Triomphe. Arc de Triomphe is a monument and the largest triumphal arch in the world and  located at the end of  Champs Elysees opposite of the Grande de Arch.

The arch is close to a perfect cube  with  its   dimensions, 110m high, 112m deep and 108m wide. The arch is made from a prestressed concrete frame. The arch  whole structure  is turned at an angle of 6.33 degree on the axis to accommodate its big foundations with La Defense Metro Station, RER station and motorway, all situated directly  underneath the buiding. Click  the link here  to see the plan.

Steel cables

The building facade is finished completely with marble slabs.

Gigantic steel cables fixed into the concrete wall, supporting the

 vertical passageway for the lifts

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La Grande de Arch, La Defense; Come to my 'Window'

-I went to Paris for  the first time bacpacking with my friend in 1995, summer holiday. We spent 3 days in Paris and stayed at a cheap motel. As we were student, money was tight and Youth Hostel in Paris was the fisrt choice but it was packed with students who were also traveling since it  was summer holiday. Grande de Arch was my last stop before going back to London after visiting many places in Paris. I  took a metro alone from Gare du Nord to La Defanse station  to go to Grande de Arch. I  was really excited to see the building and planned the whole day there to take photos. Gare is station in French. My friend and I decided to go different places and meet back at Gare Du Nord before we headed back to London that evening by Eurostar. It was my fist time taking subway in Paris because all others places we went sight seeing by foot.

For your information, Paris is a compact city and much of it can be covered by foot especially  the primary sightseeing spots like Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Pompidou Centre. The rapid subway or underground railway system here is called Metro. Taking metro is one of the best ways if you want to go sight seeing in Paris. It is fast, efficient and  easy and you save lots of time and most places of interest in Paris are  just short walking distance from the Metro stations.

This magnificent concrete monolith, 'simple and poetic'

'Like an open cube, a window open upon the world,

a brief pause on the road and a glance towards the future'

The building somehow  reminds me of a popular song in 1995 by 'Melissa Etheridge'

Come to my window

Crawl inside, wait by the light of the moon,

Come to my window

I'll be home soon

'A cloud in the sky' brings life to the building

The  lift passageway
 The lift will take you to the roof  top of the building
to enjoy the view of Paris. 

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