La Défense #14: Kupka-Polis
By Hans-Josef Jeanrond on Thursday 14 June 2007, 23:15 - La Défense - Permalink
A City in the Kupka Building
Toute une ville dans l'immeuble Kupka
Eine ganze Stadt im Kupka-Gebäude
The Kupka building is situated at the west of La Défense, its a rounded
glass facade is linked to "La Pacifique" across the boulevard circulaire by the
"Japan Bridge". This pedestrian bridge was imagined by architect Kisho
Kurokawa, then designed in detail by RFR Ingénieurs in 1994.
The rounded glass facade of the Kupka building reflects the image of a
sprawling city. A very high opening receives the Japan Bridge. The resulting
images are a bit eerie, reminding me somewhat of Fritz Lang's Metropolis. (OK,
it's a far fetched comparison, but I can't help it, this association came to my
mind.)
The following two images are taken from within the Japan Bridge. The left one
looking back from Kupka towards La Pacifique, the right one looking towards
Kupka.
(Click on the images to enlarge)
The next images show the Japan Bridge and the "right wing" of Kupka.
(Click on the images to enlarge)
The "left wing" of Kupka reflects the back of the shopping centre "Les 4
Temps" (to the left), the side of the Grande Arche, and La Pacifique, and in
between the latter ones a number of smaller buildings.
And now two nearly identical panoramic views of Kupka and the Japan Bridge, one
with a very strange looking vegetation in the foreground.
Tell me which one you prefer.
