The new dominant feature of La Défense will be built by Jean Nouvel

Paris - The new landmark of the modern Parisian district of Défense will be a 301-meter tall skyscraper designed by French architect Jean Nouvel. The victory of his design was announced by French media today. The skyscraper is set to be completed by 2015 and will be named Tour Signal.
    Nouvel was one of five finalists among whom the district administration made its decision. In an interview with today’s Le Parisien, Nouvel mentioned that his design prevailed due to its multifunctionality, even before the official announcement of the competition results. The new tower will include offices, a hotel with an atrium, shops, restaurants, and apartments. The building is also claimed to be exemplary in terms of environmental friendliness.
    The new tower is expected to become a symbol of the planned modernization of the Défense district, which was mostly built in the 1970s and 1980s. The plans are based on the belief that without modernization and expansion, Défense will lose its attractiveness to large global companies in competition with London, Frankfurt, and Barcelona. The tallest building in the district to date is the 180-meter headquarters of TotalFinaElf.
    Nouvel, who will turn 62 in August, is one of the most sought-after architects of recent decades. His designs include the admired Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris and the Museum of Indigenous Art on the Branly Quay, the Dentsu Tower in Tokyo, and the Torre Agbar skyscraper in Barcelona. His creations also include the Prague building Zlatý Anděl.