PARIS IN THE XXth CENTURY : MAJOR ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENTS
History of Paris France

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The major architectural projects and achievements that shape Paris towards the end of the XXth century began in the early 1950s.

In the western part of Paris, the building of the C.N.I.T., an embryo of the second business center, was completed in 1958.

During that period of evident growth, the capital city was offering itself its Manhattan. In 1969, a fast train ("R.E.R.") circuit was built on the same site, giving the area its absolute magnitude. In 1958, the UNESCO first and very modern buildings ("Place de Fontenoy") were inaugurated. From 1952 and during five years la "Maison de la Radio" became one of the vastest building sites of the XVIth district.

Alterations were going on in several Parisian quarters such as "Le Marais, Saint-Germain-des Près, Montparnasse, les Halles". Several historical hôtels among which the "Hôtel de Sully", "l’Hôtel de Rohan" were renovated.

Constructions in the Montparnasse area started in 1959 with the "Maine-Montparnasse" project between 1969 and 1973. The Montparnasse Tower, 210 meters high, was completed.

Under Georges Pompidou’s Presidency, Beaubourg platform, in the heart of Paris, was created.

In the eastern part of Paris, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing opened the Museum of Sciences and Technics on the grounds of "La Villette".

The Museum of Orsay was also due to the presidential initiative.

Under François Mitterrand the Grand Louvre project imposed itself with the edification of the Pei glass pyramid, inaugurated in March 1989, in the middle of Napoleon’s yard at the Louvre.

In order to boost the eastern parts of Paris the Bastille Opera started in 1982 and was due to be officially opened for the bicentenary of the Revolution in memory of the Bastille assault.

The Great Arch came, as previously mentioned, to achieve the business center area of la "Défense". In the early 1990s, the last project of François Mitterrand, the Great Library of France, named after the president’s name François Mitterrand, was to be opened in 1996.

Paris was also becoming more "green" (90 hectares in 10 years).

"Square de la Roquette, Parc Georges Brassens, Parc André Citroën, Parc de la Villette, then, Parc de Bercy".

Paris has now become one of the greenest capital cities in Europe.

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