Kerouac, I`m curious if you have any insight into how a typical French office worker`s office or cubicle would compare to a similarly situated American`s. I know there are millions of variations, so it`s not possible to answer comprehensively, but just curious if you had any personal knowledge of the subject.

Thanks Kerouac for showing La Defense in such a good manner.

Living in The Netherlands we visit Paris quite regularly, and I most say that almost every time we also visit La Defense. Especially for the large (and recently renovated) shopping mall. It is just handy to do the shopping we want in one place, so we can use the rest of the time for sightseeing etc.

There is also a large hypermarche form Auchan there (although not the biggest and/or most beautiful one). For thos of you who like to visit a large french supermarket (or hypermarket as the say).

WillTravel, there are as many variations as in the U.S. and in any case the modern office environment has been copied from the American model, from 'open space' to the offices with glass walls, to the executive floor, etc. Inside Paris is where offices can get really quirky, particularly those created from converted residential buildings. At the company where I work now, we have almost always been in modern offices (5 moves since I started with the company), but the very first one was an old apartment on the Champs Elysées and there was even still a bathtub in the restroom!

Terrific and very interesting work. Thank you.

Kerouac, one year i got points via amex for a free 3 night stay in Paris, BUT the only hotel available on the dates we wanted were in La defense, we took a punt and enjoyed a different perspective of Paris. The train really only took a short while and whilst i would stay there again (been there done that now)it was great to see another side to this beautiful city... thanks for reminding me.

Hi K,

>Ira, so you think the offices and corporate headquarters should have been built inside Paris? <

Of course not, the city would have sunk.

I would have moved the business center to somewhere not visible from Paris, a la Louis XIV moving to Versailles.

>...all in all a great start to the morning<\\
great story, jp.
.................................................
K asks,

>I always wonder in such cases what they would like to see instead,....<

The Chrysler Building isn't bad.

There are many smaller buildings in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles that could have been the bases for larger office buildings.

The problem with La Defense, as it is with innumerable downtowns in the US, is that it is nothing more than a Leggo Set.

Hi K,

Should one desire to go visit La Defense, can you get there on a regular metro or bus ticket?

I enjoyed going to the top of the Grande Arche de la Defense for the view straight down the Champs-Elysees in the distance and straight to the Tuileries - a straight line - i believe Defense Arch being in straight line with Carousil Arch in Tuileries by the Louvre.

The Defense Arch was one of Mitterand's Grands Project to leave his mark on the capital and to infuse it with more modern contemporary yet still imposing structures like this.

Ira - one regular metro ticket will take you there on the old metro line - #1 i believe but if you take the faster RER i think you pay more - according to distance.

You can also get to La Defense by train - train from St-Lazare station that goes to Versailles Rive Gauch station - a short enough walk from the chateau. Thus you can easily stop off at Defense after doing Versailles during the day and then transfer there to the metro or RER into Paris proper.

Kerouac:
Tahanks for your pictures.We have been 5 times to Paris and 3 to La Defense.We really enjoyed it each time,and will return in 2 years.Why not enjoy both the old and the new in the most beautiful city?

Thoroughly enjoyable photo essay Kerouac. Thanks for sharing.

Thans, K! Great photos. We are always planning a visit but have not made it yet. Maybe October for sure. I always wonder if that is a Thumb or a Middle finger!

Yes, Ira, a normal metro ticket will take you to La Défense on metro line 1. I decided to take the deluxe route on Friday because I wanted a photo of the RER station, so the RER cost me 2.30€ (or was it 2.35€?).

PalenQ (and others), I am sorry to report that the roof of the Grande Arche is closed "until further notice." Apparently there is some sort of technical problem, but also they have never been happy with the way it is set up. There is a big expo zone there -- and of course the wonderful view from the roof -- but the expo zone has never been satisfactory and I think they are looking for some new ideas.

I can remember when we took an "organized" tour of France some years ago and the whole thing began in Paris and the tour company used a hotel in the area. We honestly, and very foolishly, thought we were out in the hinterlands and I suppose we were given the time it took to get from there to the "oh so touristy" attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, etc., etc.

Thanks for the report which I found interesting. I honestly don't understand why some people look at buildings that are bigger than they are...even an outhouse is bigger than most folks..and fall into the 'intimidated' mode.

kerouac - yes i remember being not-plussed with the exhibit area on the roof top of the Gr Arche - seemed real plastic - but hope they will at least reopen the viewing - perhaps a nice cafe?

We'll keep our fingers crossed. The Grande Arche deserves something nice up there.

AJPeabody,

Would these same buildings still be architectural monstrosities if they were located in Hong Kong or Shanghai?

Just wondering...

I will continue to avoid voluntary real life exposure to architectural monstrosity.>

so you cannot leave home i guess?

i rather like La Defense and the new city - actually The City like in London - the new business and financial center (i think was the plan in actuality i'm not sure?) and the clean box-like structures - i at times get tired of say Italian cities where everything looks the same ole same ole - no daring to put new contemporary architecture in them - even if it is not the award-winning type stuff one may well have expected of Paris - one of the art and architect capitals of the world.

Jean Nouvel designed two different buildings for La Défense.

The first one was the "Tour sans fin" planned in 1989 but never built.

http://t4deliriousnygroupe12.files.w...05/image11.jpg

The second one is the "Tour signal" which does not yet have financing due to the economic situation.

http://projets-architecte-urbanisme....ean-nouvel.jpg

My, my, my. I was speaking of La Defense as a potential tourist attraction I might consider touring when I am next in Paris. Of course you need big buildings if you need a lot of office space, but that's not my own idea of what to fly over an ocean to see. I am glad that there is only one big bad glass monstrosity in Paris proper. Who would like more than one Tour Montparnasse?