La Grande Arche de la Défense, Paris, described by its Danish architectural designer Johan-Otto Von Spreckelsen (May 4, 1929—March 16, 1987), as a ‘window on to an uncertain future’, marks without closing, the access on which the Arc de Triomphe sits in the heart of Paris.
The focal point of La De Fence, this impressive structural design was picked out of 424 competition entries in 1982.
The building weighs 300,000 tons, is a 100-meter square cube with a 70-meter square opening. It is completely flat and cladded in white marble and glass. At its centre is a canvas structure, tied into the building by steel cables, providing a central focus and space within a space.
