Grande Arche is an impressive building that has never been fully appreciated it from the French and international critics. The work of Johan Otto von Spreckelsen – a Danish Architect who has had practically this unique opportunity to show off himself besides its nation. Completed in 1989, it rises several kilometers away from the original Arc du Triomphe, which conceptually takes reference.
The Architecture is situated just outside of Paris in the business district of La Défense and finds its origins in the competition for a “modernized Arche de Triomphe” – in fact it is a monument that celebrates the bicentennial of the French Revolution.
The competition – in the early 80’s – was won precisely by the Danish Johan Otto von Spreckelsen , whose concept was quite simple, more or less a hollowed cube. On the web there is very few about him, Wikipedia defines him “A modest man” and he is best known for the creation of several modern churches in Denmark. He died in 1987, too early to see his greatest work completed.
I leave you to judge Le Grande Arche. Visiting it is truly impressive and once there actually one wonders what his meaning. Certainly it is an architecture that changes the face of a piece of the city.
In the last picture you can see the very long Historical Axis – extending from the Louvre along the Champs-Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe – Typically of Haussmann
All photographs ©Luca Onniboni – (do whatever you want, reminding us)
