Playwright Tristan Bernard is said to have eaten lunch at the Eiffel Tower every day, not because he liked the cafe’s menu, but because it was the only place in Paris where he couldn’t see the Eiffel Tower. Decades after its construction, in the late 1880s, when the building had yet to become the most beloved in France, and perhaps the world, his views were not entirely eccentric. But in a city full of Eiffel Towers, a must-visit tourist attraction, right behind the Eiffel Tower is one of Paris’ least loved buildings. Montparnasse Tourhas gained notoriety as the only skyscraper in the city center since its completion in 1973.
Unlike the Eiffel Tower, which was built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, Montparnasse Tower has no political symbolism. Unlike Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris or Sacré Coeur in Montmartre, it has no religious significance. Its purpose is entirely commercial, befitting a large office building with a shopping mall (or now the remains of a shopping mall) at the bottom. But when it was first conceived in 1958, it embodied the very image of modernity in a war-torn and dilapidated architectural environment. A modern skyscraper will undoubtedly show the world that Paris has fully stepped into the 20th century of indoor plumbing, electricity, high-speed trains, and communications.
This mission received the full support of none other. Andre MalrauxFrance’s first Minister of Culture at the time. Unfortunately, 1950s Europe lacked the technology, expertise, and funding needed for a 60-story skyscraper, let alone one that would be the centerpiece of a major redevelopment project that included shiny new residential neighborhoods and a completely rebuilt Gare Montparnasse station. Construction on the tower didn’t even begin until 1969, by which time the building’s once cutting-edge midcentury design (even the maquette shape wasn’t a universal hit) was already starting to look outdated. (Part of the problem is no doubt its color, which architect Philippe Tretiak described as “a bit of a nicotine stain.”)
A few years ago, when the Tour Montparnasse celebrated its 50th anniversary, I happened to be in Paris On my honeymoon. Apart from a long-running debate over whether to renovate or demolish the building, nothing happened to mark the occasion. The former option won out, so you can check out the details of the extreme modifications planned on the next page. B1M video above. The idea is not to destroy the existing building, but to take the next best step and make it less noticeable. This ambitious project will include a number of changes, including the installation of a new transparent glass façade and a sky garden strip, to reduce burdensome visual mass. But no matter how dramatic the change, it will likely remain the most prized as the only place in Paris without a view of the Montparnasse Tower.
Related content:
How Paris became Paris: the story behind its iconic squares, bridges, monuments and boulevards
Watch a time-lapse animation of the Eiffel Tower building
Architectural history of the Louvre: 800 years in 3 minutes
Construction and restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral, animation
Why are there so few skyscrapers in Europe?
Why do people hate modern architecture?: Video essay
Based in Seoul, Colin Mbemust write and broadcastIt’s about cities, languages and cultures. he is the author of the newsletter books about cities books as well Home page (I won’t summarize Korea) and korean newtro. Follow him on the social network formerly known as Twitter. @Colinbemust.
Source: Open Culture – www.openculture.com
