7 New Skyscrapers in La Défense District in Paris to Lure Business from Brexit London
La Défense district in Paris has been announced to house seven new skyscrapers, designed by a number of renowned architecture firms like Foster + Partners, Ateliers Jean Nouvel, and Christian de Portzamparc. The proposal of the skyscrapers has been announced by the French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron during his visit to London last week. The development project aims to lure business from London, following the UK’s exit from the European Union, known as Brexit.
Under the slogan “Tired of the Fog? Try the frogs,” the French district is marketing itself as a destination and possible headquarters for international businessmen, bankers, and researchers who might need to leave the UK after the Brexit. The seven skyscrapers named Trinity, Alto, M2, Hekla, Sisters, Air 2, and Hermitage will all be completed no later than 2022, and they are planned to host employees from overseas companies with a percentage up to 40%.
The announced skyscrapers will not be the only ones under construction in the French business district. There are many others high-rises planned for La Defense, which is, actually, located just outside the city limits, making it not subject to the height limitations of the Parisian planning laws. The laws which were initiated in 1977 limit the height of residential towers to 50m and office buildings to 180m.