La Defense-Paris

La Défense
La Défense is the prime high-rise office district of Paris, where many of Paris's tallest buildings can be found.

History
At the end of the first World War, plans were made to develop an axis from the Arc de Triomphe at the Etoile to La Defense. This new stretch of property would come to be known as the Triumphal Way. During the 1930's several competitions were held and numerous plans of modernist and classical style skyscrapers were submitted by architects such as Le Corbusier and Auguste Perret, however, none of these plans were recognized, due to the Great Depression in the 1930s and a lack of funding. Height limitations were also put on the skyscraper designs as to not obstruct the view on the Etoile. Towers were also only allowed on the ends of the long avenue (The Defense).

The name défense originates from the monument 'La Défense de Paris', which was erected at this site in 1883 to commemorate the war of 1870. Eventually in 1951 the Defense site was chosen as an office center. In 1964, a plan was finally approved to have 20 office towers of 25 stories each. This plan was not followed exactly however, due to companies wanting taller office towers. The result is a combination of short and tall towers. A monument called the Grande Arche de la Defense was then erected to counterweight the Arc de Triomphe. This was designed by the Danish architect Otto van Spreckelsen. This cube shaped building/arch actually contains offices within.