The Saint Gobain Group headquarters rises 44 floors, standing 165 meters tall and covering approximately 49,000 square meters. This building is designed to exemplify outstanding environmental quality, focusing on urban integration, energy efficiency, and occupant comfort.
Designing a new tower in La Défense today involves addressing various challenges, including functional needs like creating flexible and efficient spaces, technical constraints of complex and limited sites, ensuring high-quality living conditions within tall buildings, urban development issues reflecting the shift of commercial districts toward more urban lifestyles, and the symbolic significance of housing the headquarters of a major French corporation.
Despite these challenges, a tower’s true essence lies in its relationship with people and the impact it has on them. People expect these buildings to evoke emotions, and architects strive to deliver such emotional experiences and stimuli.
The tower stands out with its unique design, resembling a cluster of three crystals that capture and scatter light, combining reflectivity and transparency. Its dynamic silhouette is formed by three inclined polyhedrons, symbolically representing the head, body, and feet, interacting gracefully with neighboring towers. This creates a welcoming and warm presence, as if the building is turning its head and bowing.
Nature plays a central role in the project: a large greenhouse enhances the building’s atmosphere and environmental performance, while gardens on every floor are directly accessible from the office spaces.
This tower is designed to be efficient, practical, and flexible, serving as the company’s main asset. It is divided into three main sections: the primary tower, consisting entirely of office floors; the lower floors, featuring open spaces including showrooms at the seaside plaza; and the top floor, which houses the reception area, conference hall, and a large gathering space with panoramic views.
Each office floor benefits from panoramic views and abundant natural light. Additionally, office spaces open directly onto outdoor gardens, which are designed with excellent wind protection.
The tower is designed with environmental sustainability and energy efficiency in mind. Its spatial, architectural, and technological features collectively enhance overall performance, making it an eco-friendly structure.
As a project, it embodies the quality of Saint Gobain. The company is a leader in the sales of building materials and products, with glass remaining a key symbol of its heritage. This crystal-like tower highlights glass’s aesthetic qualities as well as its properties of light transmission, insulation, and low emissivity.
Design Drawings
△ Location Map
△ First Floor Plan
△ 27th Floor Plan
△ 37th Floor Plan
Southeast Elevation View
Southwest Elevation View
△ Section Diagram
Project Information
Project Type: Office Facilities, Indoor Office, Sustainable Development
Location: Paris, France
Architectural Design: Valode & Pistre
Area: 49,000 m²
Project Year: 2019
Photographers: Sergio Grazia, Laurent Kronental
Manufacturers: AutoDesk, Saint Gobain
Lead Architects: Denis Valode & Jean Pistre
Client: Generali / Saint Gobain
Engineers: Egis, Terrell, Artelia, Arcora, Movveo, G-Sir, Transsolar, 8’18’’
Landscape Design: Raphia
Consultants: Batiss, Lasa, Artelia QEB
Construction Contractor: Vinci Construction
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