Tour Areva, Office skyscraper in La Défense, Courbevoie, France.
Tour Areva is a 44-story office tower in La Défense with a square footprint clad entirely in dark granite. The tinted windows create a uniform, unbroken façade that gives the building its distinctive monolithic appearance.
Completed in 1974, the tower was originally built as headquarters for EDF, France's national energy company. It emerged during a period when major corporations were establishing themselves with landmark office buildings in La Défense.
The building embodies the functional design principles of the 1970s, with its clean geometric form reflecting the architectural thinking of that era. Its dark exterior makes it a visual landmark in the district that reflects the style of its time.
The building is easily accessible by public transportation and features modern infrastructure with numerous elevators throughout. Its central location in the business district makes it reachable from multiple transit connections.
The building's black monolithic form is often compared to the mysterious object from the science fiction film 2001: A Space Odyssey. This unexpected cultural reference has made it a fixture in popular discussions about architecture and cinema.
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