Metamorphosis of the Ariane tower

The Ariane tower upgrade project is part of a dialog with the existing tower's architectural and structural features, both to reveal it and to transform it into a 21st century tower. The program includes the renovation of the entire façade to improve its thermal and acoustic qualities, while respecting the architectural principles of Jean de Mailly's original 1975 design, as well as the redevelopment of the base's common spaces. Our goal is to preserve the legibility of the portholes and windows characteristic of this second-generation tower and to restore the original tripartite order - base, body, crown - lost during successive renovations. A new entrance pavilion and a business center on the first level of the base give the tower an active base open to the La Défense esplanade. The entrance pavilion, entirely glazed, has new functions: a waiting room and a bar opening onto a large hall. The activation of the base, which opens onto the public space, anchors the tower in its surroundings and offers users new living spaces.