THE EMPTY CUBE

The marble and glass Grande Arche at La Défense built from 1985 thru 1989 has always given rise to controversy because for many it disfigures the perspective from the Champs-Elysées. The interior empty space in the cube-like structure purportedly is tall enough to contain the spire of cathedral Notre Dame de Paris.

That's not the only space empty there: the top story which housed a convention and exhibition center, a computer museum, a restaurant and a panoramic observation area had to be closed to the general public in 2010 for safety and economical reasons; after reparation of an elevator following an accident, it was determined that renovation of the series of panoramic glass elevators would be too costly. Those spaces are now to be used as offices for the Ministry of Ecology, which incidentally has had to call for a safety inspection of the building's façade because of the porosity and erosion of certain of its marble plaques. Some have fallen off. The office space in the two supporting towers continue to be in use.

photo by Ian Byrd

Vocabulary

vide:  empty

une flèche:  a spire; an arrow

un ascenseur:  an elevator

©2012 P.B. Lecron

RULE OF THUMB

Twelve meters high and 18 tons of bronze thumb on the Esplanade of La Défense. This colossal version of Le Pouce (The Thumb) sculpted by César (César Baldaccini, 1921-1988), is more imposing than aesthetic. The original sculpture, an enlargement of a mold of the artist's own thumb, was cast in 1965 and measured 1,85 meters. A 6 meter-high version was created for the 1988 summer Olympics in Seuol, South Korea. The massive thumb at La Défense was put in place in 1994.

Expressions
faire tâche:  to stick out like a sore thumb
faire du pouce:  to thumb a ride; to hitchhike
avoir deux mains gauches:  to be all thumbs
en règle générale:  as a rule of thumb
une signe d'approbation:  thumbs up
un coup de pouce:  a help, an aid
sur le pouce:  in a rapid manner
manger sur le pouce:  to grab a bite to eat; to have a quick snack


©2012 P.B. Lecron

LA DEFENSE ON OCCASION

La Défense is not an entry-level venue for tourists to Paris, but on occasion a stroll along its vast elevated esplanade with suspended gardens and some 60 sculptures and works of art is indicated. Paris' major business quarter is also Europe's largest purpose-built business district. Most Parisian high-rise buildings--containing more that 3 million square meters of office space-- are grouped in this zone.

A favorite photographer's backdrop  on the esplanade is Raymond Moretti's (1931-2005) Cheminée, a 30-meter high sculptured tower of concrete and fiberglass tubes that conceals a ventilation shaft.

Text & photos ©2011 P.B. Lecron