OutNext by Steph & Alek

NORMAN FOSTER UNVEILS TWIN TOWERS FOR PARIS

Norman Foster + Partners recently revealed the masterplan for a new sustainable community in La Defensse just outside of Paris complete with twin faceted skyscrapers.



Running alongside the Seine, Hermitage Plaza “will create a 24-hour community that will regenerate the riverfront and inject new life into a predominantly commercial part of the city.” The development will feature a hotel, spa, apartments, offices, and retail space in addition to a public piazza that runs all the way to the river’s edge. The twin triangle-faceted towers face each other at the ground level and twist as they rise to give stunning views of the city of light. Each tower features a high-performance glazed façade split into faceted panels that promote shading, and exterior vents can be opened for natural ventilation".

The two 323 meter towers are slated to break ground in 2010 and complete by the end of 2014.

IMAGES OF THE FIRST PARIS SKYSCRAPER

Swiss architecture agency Herzog & De Meuron shows their project of a high rise building for the Porte de Versailles in Paris.

The 50-storey pyramid-like rising 180 meters would be the first skyscraper to be built inside Paris in 30 years, after the Montparnasse tower, Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoe unveiled the project during a press conference today.

The privately-financed building is expected to contain offices looking outward and a luxury hotel looking towards the city centre. There are also plans for luxury boutiques, a panoramic restaurant, a swimming pool, hanging gardens and a Babel-like "museum of languages of the world".

The tower is cheduled for completion by 2012.

THE EIFFEL TOWER TO GET A FANCY HAT FOR HER BIRTHDAY

This is going to be crazy I LOVE it !!!! Next year marks the 120th anniversary of the Eiffel Tower. To celebrate, the French will be adding a gigantic webbed Kevlar observation deck to the top, doubling the size of the deck and making the Eiffel Tower look like some sort of alien space needle.

The addition isn't permanent ... but remember the Eiffel Tower itself wasn't permanent ... and the sparkling lighting neither ... who knows this might stay on top.

A Plan to Temporarily Alter Eiffel Tower’s Silhouette
+ The New York Times

Eiffel Tower Getting Huge Observation Deck Made of Kevlar Webbing
+ Gizmodo

PARISIAN DUPLEX WITH BREATHTAKING VIEW FOR SALE

Since I am in Paris for a couple of days I though I would share a couple of pictures of our little pied-à-terre ;-) This 400 m² (4 306 feet²) duplex has 3 bedrooms with a 165 m² terrace with panoramic views (360°) of Paris is for sale ... and this is totally the kind of place I could see myself living in ... not you !? If you decide to buy it ... don't forget about me for your summer Martini's parties on the terrace.

+ Paris Fine Residences

LA RESERVE PARIS + RAMATUELLE

I know that you have always wanted to live like a true Parisian. Having experienced that myself ... believe me ... you don't want to. So I would suggest to simply go to La Reserve, and just pretend people in Paris live like that !

La reserve Paris is the ultimate Parisian "living like", located on the Trocadero next to the Eiffel Tower, it functions as a longer-term getaway or home, with 10 apartments in duplex and even triplex formations providing every luxury, valet parking, extensive concierge service, and high-tech amenities.

Once done with the stress of the city take a jet or the TGV (that will depend on your budget) and head south to La Reserve Ramatuelle.

The villas are set against the hills of Ramatuelle and just minutes from the legendary village of Saint Tropez.

+ La Reserve Paris
+ La Reserve Ramatuelle

THE BEST CAKE EVER ...

Those are my favorites ... Chocolate Marshmallow Bears compressed into one delicious cake. Simply genius !!! The Méli-Mélours with is only available in Paris at The Grande Epicerie ... Price: €22 (Paris round trip ticket not included)

+ La Grande Epicerie

And to hide it from your kids, we'll suggest the porcelain Cake of Peace dish. Price: € 515.00

+ Royal Tichelaar Makkum Biscuit Collection

MAISON BLANCHE RESTAURANT PARIS

The White House in Paris is not about politic but about food ;-) Ranked number one restaurant by Forbes, Maison Blanche is positioned on the top floor of the Art Deco-style Theatre on the fashionable Avenue Montaigne. A nice trendy gourmet glassed-in rooftop restaurant in Paris with a magnificent view over Paris.

Crisp, clean design and cutting-edge seasonal cuisine. Maison Blanche 15, avenue Montaigne 75008 Paris (tél. 33 (0)1 47 23 55 99.

+ Maison Blanche Paris
+ World's Top Power Dinning Spots by Forbes

HOTEL BELLECHASSE PARIS BY CHRISTIAN LACROIX

Perfectly located behind the Musée d'Orsay in the 7th arrondissement of Paris l'Hotel Bellechasse is the place to sleep right now ! It is close to everything and right next St Germain. Completely redesigned by the famous dressmaker Christian Lacroix, it opened just a couple of months ago (July 2007) The designer has created a fantastic, contemporary and coloured atmosphere.

With its 34 rooms, the stylist Christian Lacroix declined several atmospheres evoking neo-classicism or bohemian spirit thanks to his work on the motives, the colours and the various materials. Right now they have special and limited discovery rates. Price: €490 €240 + €25 for breakfast. WIFI included.

+ Hotel Le Bellechase Paris

TOWER PB22 PARIS LA DEFENSE + NEW PROJECT

Check this out ... a new skyscraper for La Defense district located west of Paris. This tower PB22 is designed by Philippe Chiambaretta. Another picture and a video en Francais here.

If the city achieves all the current projects, this is how paris skyline should look like by 2020 ...

^{Image source}

+ Philippe Chiambaretta

A NEW FRESH DESIGN FOR VAN CLEEF & ARPELS IN PARIS

22 Place Vendôme, Paris, also known as the van Cleef & Arpels showrow has been updated by the young designer Patrick Jouin who also did a fantastic job for the GILT restaurant in New York City.

A refined palette of cream and beige, where fantasy and natural motifs combine with classic French elegance in a unique, very Van Cleef & Arpels atmosphere.

22 Place Vendôme is the birthplace of Van Cleef & Arpels. The original salon was opened here on June 16, 1906.

Sculpted paneling plays with the 18th century style, a wall gently curves around a subtle frieze, light is captured within a sparkling chandelier and a rainbow of colors is set in dramatic displays.

+ Van Cleef & Arpels
+ Patrick Jouin