Paris’s first residential skyscraper stands before us. This is the Tour Albert. Have you ever stopped to consider the story of this imposing structure?
The Tour Albert is located in the 13th arrondissement. Find it at 33, rue Croulebarbe. It rises 67 meters high and has 23 floors. The Tour Albert houses 110 apartments.
Construction of the Tour Albert occurred from 1958 to 1960. Édouard Albert designed it with Robert Boileau and Jacques Henri-Labourdette. Its creation marked a turning point in Parisian architecture.
The Tour Albert’s construction aimed to connect rue Croulebarbe to avenue de la Sœur-Rosalie. A steep drop separated these streets. Plans included a footbridge over a RATP maintenance station. However, the RATP refused. The project was abandoned.
The Tour Albert’s structure is unique. Hollow steel tubes filled with concrete support it. These tubes measure 19.1 to 21.6 centimeters. Reinforced concrete slabs form the floors, resting on the tubes. A double longitudinal bracing and cross bracing reinforce the structure. The tubular design is visible on the facade. It is characteristic of Édouard Albert’s work. The Jussieu campus also features this design.
Look closely at the facade. Notice the alternating windows. Translucent spandrels were originally used. Some have been replaced with transparent ones. Stainless steel panels also adorn the facade.
The 6th floor features a terrace. Jacques Lagrange painted its 600-square-meter ceiling in black and white. The terrace was intended for public access. But the footbridge project’s cancellation prevented this. Another terrace exists on the 22nd floor.
The Tour Albert gained recognition as a historical monument. It was added to the supplementary inventory in 1994. Anne Coutine, an urban planner and Édouard Albert’s daughter, initiated this.
Restoration work occurred in 2005. Architect Gorka Piqueras oversaw the project.
The Tour Albert experienced renewed investor interest in the late 2010s. This mirrored other architectural achievements of the 1950s. By late 2017, sales prices reached 9,000 euros per square meter. This exceeded the 13th arrondissement average by 1,000 euros.
The Tour Albert served as a film location in 2018. It appeared in “Plaire, aimer et courir vite.” The film is set in the early 1990s. An apartment on the 22nd floor housed Jacques, a writer.
The Tour Albert stands as an icon. It represents modern architecture in France. Its aesthetics and constructive intelligence are celebrated.
The Tour Albert faced controversies early on. Concerns arose about fire risks. Upgrades ensured it met safety standards. A lawsuit condemned promoters for cost-cutting in 1963.
Consider the Tour Albert’s legacy. It is more than just a building. It represents architectural innovation. It reflects urban planning challenges. The Tour Albert remains a prominent feature of Paris’s skyline. It is a testament to the vision of Édouard Albert.