Paris La Défense
Jul 26th, 2010, 08:25 PM
#42
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Well, no one forces anyone to visit La Défense or Tour Montparnasse or Centre Beaubourg.
But to call it a big bad glass monstrosity is a (valid) personal judgement, not a factual remark based on architectural criteria. I could call Versailles a big bad stone monstrosity, yet it would not change its place in time or architectural value.
I think there is nothing wrong with visting exclusively those places that suit one's taste.
It also depends on your perception of Paris.
Many overseas visitors see it as a time capsule of the 1850s-1950s, with romantic corners in Montmartre, students and poets in Quartier Latin, and so on.
While for Europe, Paris had much more impact on revolutionary city planning. In fact, Haussmann was the first to bring the "Lego approach" to the cities, with uniformed buildings (same height, same look, pre-fabricated facades etc), which had a much bigger impact than the few skyscrapers in La Défense.
The concept of the planned city had, by the way, also a major impact on the development of American cities.
The concept of Banlieues, which caught on all over Europe, with icons like Le Corbusier with his concept of the vertical city at the forefront, led to well-known major problems in those districts, but also kept urban sprawl in line.
La Défense fused the concept of using little land for new office buildings, with - especially with the later additions -an architecture that includes sights, shopping, entertainment into otherwise corporate wasteland, and thus stepped away from the purely functional and somewhat inhumane concept of Corbusier's times.
So, the French were never timid to give nostalgia a kick in the butt, and try something completely new.
You're not supposed to make it the reason to travel thousands of miles. Or even feel obliged to visit when you're in Paris.
But it's definetely not a worthless pile of glass, steel, and stone but a concept that had and has major impact on European cityscapes.
To hate it is a valid expression of personal preferences, to say that it's meaningless is an expression of ignorance.
But to call it a big bad glass monstrosity is a (valid) personal judgement, not a factual remark based on architectural criteria. I could call Versailles a big bad stone monstrosity, yet it would not change its place in time or architectural value.
I think there is nothing wrong with visting exclusively those places that suit one's taste.
It also depends on your perception of Paris.
Many overseas visitors see it as a time capsule of the 1850s-1950s, with romantic corners in Montmartre, students and poets in Quartier Latin, and so on.
While for Europe, Paris had much more impact on revolutionary city planning. In fact, Haussmann was the first to bring the "Lego approach" to the cities, with uniformed buildings (same height, same look, pre-fabricated facades etc), which had a much bigger impact than the few skyscrapers in La Défense.
The concept of the planned city had, by the way, also a major impact on the development of American cities.
The concept of Banlieues, which caught on all over Europe, with icons like Le Corbusier with his concept of the vertical city at the forefront, led to well-known major problems in those districts, but also kept urban sprawl in line.
La Défense fused the concept of using little land for new office buildings, with - especially with the later additions -an architecture that includes sights, shopping, entertainment into otherwise corporate wasteland, and thus stepped away from the purely functional and somewhat inhumane concept of Corbusier's times.
So, the French were never timid to give nostalgia a kick in the butt, and try something completely new.
You're not supposed to make it the reason to travel thousands of miles. Or even feel obliged to visit when you're in Paris.
But it's definetely not a worthless pile of glass, steel, and stone but a concept that had and has major impact on European cityscapes.
To hate it is a valid expression of personal preferences, to say that it's meaningless is an expression of ignorance.
Jul 27th, 2010, 12:30 PM
#43
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La Defense is sterile yuck; it would fit in perfectly in any American city. As someone who was officed there (not my choice!) I hope never to go there again. By the time it was completed, La Defense was rendered obsolete by the RER exspansion. We moved out,thank god.
Jul 27th, 2010, 02:20 PM
#44
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"Well, no one forces anyone to visit La Défense or Tour Montparnasse or Centre Beaubourg. "
One HAS to visit Centre Beaubourg - they often have terrific
art shows.
I did not mind the building when it was constructed
but it has aged now - and not in a good way!
We saw two great exhibitions there last May... the escalators did not work part of the way, the "tunnel" going up was hot, the low ceilings don't help.
As for Tour Montparnasse .... I cannot find anything good to say about that place . Well, the view .
La Defense , I like.
One HAS to visit Centre Beaubourg - they often have terrific
art shows.
I did not mind the building when it was constructed
but it has aged now - and not in a good way!
We saw two great exhibitions there last May... the escalators did not work part of the way, the "tunnel" going up was hot, the low ceilings don't help.
As for Tour Montparnasse .... I cannot find anything good to say about that place . Well, the view .
La Defense , I like.
Jul 27th, 2010, 03:06 PM
#45
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Loved the report and I also loved La Defense. I like the idea it is all in one spot - doesn't spoil any other part of Paris!! I found it fascinating when I was there last year as I said in my report. Definitely well worth a trip if you haven't been there.
Thanks again, I am just titling my photos and I will post them soon. Shame we never did conect.... are you feeling better now? The things people do to get out of meeting me!!! ha ha. Schnauzer
Thanks again, I am just titling my photos and I will post them soon. Shame we never did conect.... are you feeling better now? The things people do to get out of meeting me!!! ha ha. Schnauzer
Jul 28th, 2010, 11:11 AM
#46
Your points are well taken, CB1968. I have seen many glass walled buildings of various shapes in abundence, but there is only one Versailles (well, there are a few similar constructions in Europe, but you know what I mean). And some of these glass office blocks are interesting, but not a destination. Why go to Paris to see a shopping center that is actually really and truly in a bunch of glass walled buildings? I have been to NYC.
That's me, ymmv.
My point is that if I am getting into an airplane and paying for hotels and everything else to see more of what I have seen before, I have wasted expensive time. I certainly do not want Paris to be an embalmed tourist-town a la Venice, and if Parisians foolishly screw up with a Tour Montparnasse in the middle of the city, that's their lookout. I am, in fact, truly happy that La Defense is outside the ring.
That's me, ymmv.
My point is that if I am getting into an airplane and paying for hotels and everything else to see more of what I have seen before, I have wasted expensive time. I certainly do not want Paris to be an embalmed tourist-town a la Venice, and if Parisians foolishly screw up with a Tour Montparnasse in the middle of the city, that's their lookout. I am, in fact, truly happy that La Defense is outside the ring.
Jul 29th, 2010, 05:14 AM
#48
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Hi CowB,
Very good post.
>Many overseas visitors see it as a time capsule of the 1850s-1950s, with romantic corners in Montmartre, students and poets in Quartier Latin, and so on.<
I think that the whole of France should be declared a World Historical Disneyland and kept just as it was in 1970.
Very good post.
>Many overseas visitors see it as a time capsule of the 1850s-1950s, with romantic corners in Montmartre, students and poets in Quartier Latin, and so on.<
I think that the whole of France should be declared a World Historical Disneyland and kept just as it was in 1970.
