La Defense

La Defense was built in the 1960s and consisted of skyscrapers for the modern commercial world and international businesses.  It was a bit of shock getting off the metro as this was very different from the rest of Paris.  It was weird to see the modern buildings that weren’t hundreds of years old.  I was suddenly surrounded by oddly tall skinny buildings.  This made the atmosphere much different from old historic Paris.  These new tall buildings were built away from the center of Paris because the underground in Paris was unstable with metro lines, sewer tunnels, and caves.  Also there wasn’t much room left in Paris and new zoning laws were passed forbidding tall buildings.  I’m not surprised that the ground was unstable though because on an earlier walk that took me through the layers of Paris it showed how the city was built upon many old historical foundations, some dating back to the Romans.  I also went on the metro walk that obviously showed the complex tunnel system that exists underground so I can see that the foundation in the city wouldn’t have been the best for these tall skyscrapers.  La Defense, however, wasn’t just like any skyscraper city, it still had a hint of Paris to it.  Interspersed among the buildings were unique art sculptures which makes sense, since Paris is a hub of art whether it’s classic or modern.  It just wouldn’t be Parisian without some kind of art to it.  The art made the area more exciting and fun to look around with these hidden treasures.  Even though the art sculptures were modern and possibly controversial when first built, it gave the area a nice atmosphere.

 

I found the Grande Arche, though, as a curious invention.  It is on the same axis as the Arc de Triomphe but this arch is a giant skyscraper covered in white marble.  Why would the French build this?  The Arc de Triomphe honors those who fought for France.  However, I don’t think the Grande Arche has any war honor linked with it, but that’s what makes it different.  Here in this more modern business part of town, there shouldn’t be an old historical arch but a modern type of arch that fits the time period and situation.  During the time that it was built, there weren’t wars going on so they couldn’t build an arch for honorary purposes.  Instead, since they wanted this to be an area for businesses and office space, why not build an arch for a more practical use by creating it as a skyscraper itself.  Now that fits with the time period and purpose of La Defense but it still follows along the same axis as the other arches and completes the line and history, in essence, of Paris.