seeking to be a horizontal tower that would set the building height limit at paris’ la défense district once and for all, architects gabriel ascanio and kelvin thengono’s ‘the last monument of paris’ is a contemporary version of a monument that stands as a collective architecture. considering what the limits of monumentality can do, la défense is the location where monumentality would challenge the vision.

the last monument of paris by gabriel ascanio sets the building height limit in paris
view to la défense from champs-élysées

 

 

by tying together distinct private skyscrapers in the city, ascanio’s project creates a super-monument that transforms the city relying on the infrastructure at la défense. power, structure, and sewerage are taken from the existing towers while in exchange, the horizontal tower offers back a generous additional square footage to the existing towers to expand into.

the last monument of paris by gabriel ascanio sets the building height limit in paris
Residential Tower

 

 

the programmatic exchange is celebrated at the intersection between the monument and existing towers, offering transitional programs from the private offices to the more public collective activities. the legs are flexible and able to deform to the existing fabric of the city, filling up the programmatic needs of la défense, allowing residential development to occur in this new metropolitan city of paris. 

the last monument of paris by gabriel ascanio sets the building height limit in paris
view to arc de triomphe from la défense

 

the last monument of paris by gabriel ascanio sets the building height limit in paris
view through grande arche from la défense

 

the last monument of paris by gabriel ascanio sets the building height limit in paris
scale model

 

the last monument of paris by gabriel ascanio sets the building height limit in paris
range spaces represent public spaces, such as terraces, sky decks, open gardens, public program

 

the last monument of paris by gabriel ascanio sets the building height limit in paris
model plan view

 

the last monument of paris by gabriel ascanio sets the building height limit in paris
ground plan

 

the last monument of paris by gabriel ascanio sets the building height limit in paris
existing buildings plan

 

the last monument of paris by gabriel ascanio sets the building height limit in paris
horizontal tower plan

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: maria erman | designboom