A Day in Paris

Friday, June 10, 2005

Cheminee d'Aeration

I met up with some girlfriends last night at La Defense, where they work. It was a lovely, warm evening and they were having drinks outside near the most interesting and colorful tower.

The tower is called Cheminee d'Aeration by Raymond Moretti. This tower sculpture, built in 1990, is nearly 100 feet high and comprised of concrete and fiberglass. There are apparently 700 narrow, colorful fiberglass tubes surrounding the tower.

A close up of some of the colorful tubes.

Even though it was nearly 8pm, it was still very light out and I was able to take a few pictures. My friends laughed at me and told me that tourists always take their picture near this tower. Aside from a big mall and offices, there isn't a whole lot to see at La Defense (if there is, please let me know) so I can understand why this tower gets a lot of attention.... To be fair, there are a few other outdoor sculptures and fountains worth checking out if you happen to be at La Defense.

Raymond Moretti... a painter, poster artist and sculptor died last week in Paris at the age of 74.

-- said Auntie M in Paris
10:05 PM

8 comments

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Comments:

Staring at that is like being in a casino - over stimulation

# posted by mrsmogul : 11:45 PM

Yes, this tower is cool. I note, however, you didn't mention the next tower along which is covered in about 100 plants, all 100% dead. Apparently some failed experiment in eco-urban design...

# posted by Taupe : 1:28 AM

Very interesting! Since I was an art major I find stuff like this fascinating!

# posted by mommy d : 3:12 AM

I love this tower ... wow ... but it seems very un-Paris-like ... not old but not contemporary with glass, steel, etc. either ... just interesting.

# posted by Becca : 6:29 AM

This is great! I've never seen it and wonder how I missed it. Will definitely check it out now!

# posted by Michael : 12:12 PM

I think that, in addition to looking at the art and the Grande Arche de la Defense itself, during business hours one might take the outside elevator to the top of the Arche and look back at Paris.

When we visited our timing was poor so we missed the elevator ride but there was a push cart with many multicolored ice and ice cream creations on sticks and, off to the side, a charming chef dummy holding a sign. Our ice cream bars were tasty but just looking at the choices was like having a tiny visit to the circus.

# posted by C.G. Blick : 11:41 PM

I have made many trips to La Defense to shop at Toys R Us, but never thought of it as sightseeing destination (although I've always enjoyed the bizarre sculptures). Then last year, my cousin visited for a couple of days, and on his list of things to see was a giant sculpture of a thumb at La Defense. We also took the elevator to the top of the Grande Arche. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this trip to tourists, but it was refreshing to have a visitor who wanted to see something besides the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.

# posted by Lisa : 8:19 AM

When Lyndon and I went to Paris in 2000 we made a special trip out to La Defense. I loved it. We went up to the top of the Grande Arch which had a terrific view back towards the center of Paris. I remember it was the middle of the week there and they had all these air sirens go off at midday. Apparently they go off once a week in honour of WWI or II (can't remember)... Is that right?

# posted by Melody : 8:33 AM