Tour Les Poissons

Have you ever heard of a skyscraper named after a fish? Right here in Courbevoie, stands the Tour Les Poissons, or “Fish Tower”. It’s a striking 42-story skyscraper, completed in 1970. While it’s often associated with La Défense, it’s actually part of a smaller complex called Centre Charras. Tour Les Poissons was once the tallest building designed for occupancy in France, holding that title until the Tour Montparnasse was completed in 1973. The name “Les Poissons” refers to the astrological sign of Pisces. The tower is part of a larger development called Zodiaque, with buildings inspired by zodiac signs. The Tour Les Poissons’ design, with its white and black towers, represents two intertwined fish, the symbol of Pisces. Originally intended solely for housing, regulations limited residential floors to thirty. The top ten floors became office spaces, recognizable by their larger windows. The first two floors also house offices and a medical center. In between, you have residential apartments. For years, a 72-foot concrete barometer topped the Tour Les Poissons. It glowed blue or green depending on the atmospheric pressure. This unique feature was removed in 2006. After AXA vacated the building, Westbrook Investments renovated the office spaces and renamed them “Tour Ciel”, or “Sky Tower”. They hoped the new name would associate the building with the prestigious La Défense district. The residential part, however, kept the name Tour Les Poissons. Today, companies like TÜV Rheinland and Borealis have their French headquarters in Tour Ciel. The Ecole supérieure de l’immobilier also resides within its walls. So next time you see the Tour Les Poissons, remember its unique history, from its zodiac-inspired design to its glowing barometer. It’s a testament to how a building can evolve while still holding onto its unique charm.