A residential giant stands before us. This is the Tour Avant-Seine.
Let’s delve into the story of this impressive structure. The Tour Avant-Seine is located in Paris’s 15th arrondissement. It is part of the Front-de-Seine district also known as Beaugrenelle. This area has a rich history.
Until the 1950s, the Front-de-Seine was primarily industrial. The canalization of the Seine in 1860 allowed factories to thrive along its banks. After 1951, factories closed and were demolished. This cleared land for urban development.
In 1959, Henry Pottier and Raymond Lopez were entrusted with the urban project. Lopez contributed to Paris’s master urban plan. Michel Holley, his colleague, created a sketch that summarized the project. The project separated living, working, and traffic. It combined a horizontal structure, a slab serving as a viewpoint over the Seine, with vertical towers and low-rise buildings.
A model of the project was first displayed in 1961. It was part of the “Tomorrow Paris” exhibition at the Grand Palais. The SEMEA 15 replaced the Compagnie Foncière XV. They further developed the project, incorporating new construction standards and legal considerations.
Regulations for tall buildings required isolating towers. This led to the “wasp waist” design, which became emblematic. It reduced the ground footprint by 30 to 50%. After Raymond Lopez’s death, Michel Proux joined Henri Pottier. By 1967, the project’s form was mostly defined.
Construction began in 1967 in the southern part with the Keller complex. It included housing, a pool, a daycare, and a telephone exchange. The Ministry of Postal Services and Telecommunications managed this. Simultaneously, work started on the Tour Compagnie Bancaire in the north. Henry Pottier and Michel Proux designed it. The slab is an artificial ground for pedestrians. It is located two levels above the natural ground.
The first towers appeared in 1970. These included the Keller, Compagnie Bancaire and Seine towers. In 1974, the Avant-Seine was built. In the early 70s, new designers were brought in. This promoted diversity in the towers’ designs.
The Tour Avant-Seine itself was completed in 1970. It rises 32 levels high. Its total height reaches 96 meters. It provides 220 apartments for residents. The building’s structure is made of concrete.
An interesting fact: The final scene of the movie “Peur sur la Ville” with Jean Paul Belmondo was filmed at the Tour Avant-Seine in 1975.
The Tour Avant-Seine underwent a complete renovation. The work finished in early 2014. The Vega block’s slab was renovated. This made it more functional and safer. It added wooded gardens and modernized lighting.
Today the Tour Avant-Seine stands as a testament to the Front-de-Seine’s transformation. It went from an industrial zone to a modern residential district. The tower represents a significant part of Paris’s architectural history.