What are the two leaning towers in Paris whose architecture gives the impression that they are about to fall?

You're approaching Porte d'Italie, and suddenly two leaning, glittering towers appear on the horizon? It's the Duo Towers: two asymmetrical skyscrapers designed by Jean Nouvel, to be delivered in 2021 to the east of Paris. What are they hiding? Offices? Hotel? Garden?

Les Tours Duo is a duo... but not a twin: two tall towers, 180 m (39 floors) and 122 m (27 floors), leaning as if to salute the city. Perched at the southern end of Avenue de France, at the gateway to Paris, they house offices, a hotel, shops, green panoramas and an auditorium. Several facades are sloped at around 5%, as if they were leaning towards... the ring road! Architect Jean Nouvel 's aesthetic signature: play with volumes and reflections, energize the skyline, and break away from a simple vertical tower.

Ateliers Jean Nouvel, in partnership with Ivanhoé Cambridge and BPCE, won the competition in 2012. Construction began in 2017, for delivery between 2021 and 2022. Today, the South Tower houses the headquarters of Groupe BPCE, while the North Tower is home to offices, shops and a 4-star hotel designed by Philippe Starck.

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What's inside?

• Tower 1 (180 m-39 floors): offices, auditorium, company restaurant, shops (~69,000 m²)

• Tower 2 (122 m-27 floors): offices (~19,000 m²), TOO Hotel (139 rooms), panoramic bar-restaurant, green spaces
  The whole complex rests on 9 basement levels: parking, archives, technical rooms
  

  • TOO Hôtel, the rooftop with panoramic restaurant and Skybar
    TOO Hôtel is the name of Laurent Taïeb's new address at the top of the Duo Towers, between Station F and the BNF, designed by Philippe Starck. A hotel in the Paris skyline, featuring a restaurant with an exceptional panoramic view, a tree-lined spa and a Skybar. [Read more]

Its mirrored facades also make an impact: Windows, "double skin", reflective scales... they catch the light, the traffic, the RER tracks below and play with the skyline. A veritable urban kaleidoscope, day and night.

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