Perhaps you have noticed that the Paris skyline has been changing? Today, we are not looking at a historic building. Instead, we are observing a modern architectural marvel. I am speaking about the Tours Duo. These towers redefine Paris’s urban landscape.
The Tours Duo consist of two skyscrapers in the 13th arrondissement. They were completed in 2021. The tallest tower is Duo 1. It stands as the third-highest building in Paris. Only the Eiffel Tower and Tour Montparnasse are taller.
Jean Nouvel’s Ateliers designed the Tours Duo. The project won a competition held by the city in 2012. The towers stand at different heights. Duo 1 reaches 180 meters with 39 floors. Duo 2 is 122 meters tall with 27 floors. Originally, Duo 1 was planned to be 175 meters.
Located in the Bruneseau Nord sector, the Tours Duo are part of the Paris Rive Gauche project. This project revitalizes southeastern Paris. The SEMAPA manages this massive renovation. The towers sit at the corner of Rue Bruneseau and Boulevard du Général-d’Armée-Jean-Simon. They accommodate offices, businesses, and a hotel.
Ivanhoé Cambridge, a Québec-based investor, backs the project. Construction began in March 2017. Natixis became the first major tenant. Bateg, Vinci Énergies, Permasteelisa, and Otis constructed the buildings.
The Tours Duo primarily house offices. BPCE bank occupies 86,000 square meters. This accommodates 6,300 employees. There are 1,800 square meters of commercial space. A four-star hotel occupies the top ten floors of Duo 2. Laurent Taïeb Group developed this luxury hotel. Philippe Starck designed the interior. The hotel features 139 rooms and suites, a restaurant, and a panoramic terrace. It opened in 2022.
Beneath the towers, nine levels of parking provide space for 511 cars and 121 two-wheeled vehicles. There are also archive spaces and technical rooms. A 2,200-square-meter area accommodates bicycle parking.
The Tours Duo incorporate sustainable features. Solar panels cover 1,500 square meters on the roofs. These panels supply about 1% of the building’s electricity. The hotel uses solar water heating. A 5,800-square-meter garden lies at the base of the towers. It features a hundred trees and shrubs. The garden connects to a belvedere built over the railway tracks leading to Gare d’Austerlitz.
Architect Jean Nouvel sees the Tours Duo as prominent landmarks at the end of Avenue de France. They extend the avenue’s perspective. Duo 1 has a double-skin façade with scales that reflect the surroundings. Duo 2 features a simpler skin with reflective materials.
Nouvel aimed to create a play of reflections. The slight inclination of the towers enhances these optical illusions. The towers appear to lean. They seem to look out over Avenue de France. The towers have seven inclined façades. Their inclinations vary up to five degrees. This is more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This design choice allows the Tours Duo to reflect the surroundings on their surfaces.
The Tours Duo have received several awards. These include the MIPIM Awards in 2016 and the Pierre d’Or in 2018. The project also earned WELL Platinum, LEED Platinum, HQE, Effinergie+, and Wiredscore certifications. With a total usable area of 105,000 square meters, the Tours Duo surpass the Tour Montparnasse and the Tour Triangle in size.
These towers exemplify modern Parisian architecture. They integrate aesthetics with functionality. The Tours Duo represent a significant addition to Paris’s skyline. They offer a glimpse into the city’s future.