Établissement Public d’Aménagement La Défense Seine Arche

Inception date:

1958

Size:

150 hectares

Number of inhabitants:

20,000

number of jobs:

130,000

developer:

EPAD

County:

Hauts-de-Seine

EPAD, which designed and implemented the "La Défense"
development, has laid a solid foundation for the maintenance of
the site's dynamism and quality of

Europe's top business districts

With over two million square metres of office space, La Défense has now become one of the leading business districts in Europe. Located only a few minutes from the centre of Paris, it is home to 1,500 major European corporations.

An unquestionable success

The ingredients of success have been the government's determination to carry the project through, as well as the quality and originality of the development designed by the urban development corporation (EPAD). The office occupancy rate is now over 90%.
The long pedestrian esplanade is the only successful instance of Le Corbusier's concept of separating pedestrians from motor vehicles. Over one kilometre long and 100 metres wide, it features a succession of squares, public gardens,fountains and green spaces, to the great delight of pedestrians. From the start,EPAD was very keen to have artists embellish the public spaces. The works of famous sculptors are therefore on display,turning La Défense into the world's largest open-air museum of contemporary art.Another factor of success has been the diversity of buildings to meet corporate clients' need for customised solutions. New buildings have continued to be built, while the older existing ones have been renovated to meet the latest performance specifications. La Défense offers the broadest range of on-site services: buildings are served by information highway and optical fibre networks; there are conference facilities; and there is a dedicated post office sorting unit. The "Quatre Temps" shopping centre (100,000 sq. m.) features a comprehensive range of retail outlets.

An extraordinarily accessible location

The key factor of the "La Défense" project's success has been its extraordinary transport facilities. Over 80% of the people who work there are daily users of the public transport system. The main station has just been completely renovated for the comfort of the 350,000 people who use it every day.

La Défense is now the flagship development in Hauts-de-Seine county because of its economic importance and two landmarks: the CNIT centre and the Grand Arch. Major cultural and prestigious events take place there.

As EPAD approaches the end of its life, it intends to sustain the dynamism of the "La Défense" development thanks to its final architectural projects and capacity for renovation work, such as, for example, the transformation of the ring road. Its aim is to ensure that La Défense continues to be recognised worldwide as a truly outstanding urban development.