French firm Nouvelle AOM has been selected to overhaul Paris' Montparnasse Tower to be completed by 2024, in time for the Paris Olympic Games. Nouvelle AOM is a consortium of three Paris-based firms that brings together a young generation of architects all born in the 1970s: Franklin Azzi, Fréderic Chartier and Pascale Dalix, Mathurin Hardel and Cyrille Le bihan – all renowned for outstanding design projects.

Nouvelle AOM defeated other six strong competitors in the competition including MAD, Architecture Studio, Dominique Perrault Architecture, OMA, PLP Architecture from UK and Studio Gang.

Image © Nouvelle AOM / Luxigon

Launched in June 2016, the competition challenged bidders to create a powerful, dynamic and bold new identity for the Tour Montparnasse, while fully addressing all the challenges of the modern world regarding user accessibility, comfort and energy performance.

In this regard, Nouvelle AOM's design was selected for giving the best answer to the competition brief with "the structure's carefully balanced engineering and architectural statement." 

Image © Nouvelle AOM / Luxigon

Nouvelle AOM's scheme brings together a wealth of intelligent features. The studio designs an 12-storey base collecting all greenery environment here - over this base, an open rooftop garden creates both a visually-broken structure and provides a worth-seeing vista overlooking to the city. 

The architects emphasize the Tower's vertical focus with other semi-transparent structure that left it isolated. The revamp also makes a shift from opacity to transparency, while compelling new uses will transform the Tower into a lively thriving place, giving it back to the people of Paris.

Image © Nouvelle AOM / Luxigon

The Montparnasse Tower was originally built in 1973, the 210 meter-high Montparnasse Tower became the tallest building of Paris. The €300 million-renovation, financed entirely by the tower's co-owners, is now expected to be completed before the Paris Olympic Games.

The metamorphosis of the Montparnasse Tower is poised to become a flagship of urban renewal and will undoubtedly spur a complete reinvention of the entire left-bank neighbourhood.

Image courtesy of Nouvelle AOM

"This was a huge challenge, as the Tower isn't like any other," explained the co-owners who sat on the selection panel. 

"Nouvelle AOM's project perfectly captures the spirit of the 21st century, giving the Tower a multifaceted identity revolving around attractive, innovative new uses. The Tower will breathe new life into the Montparnasse neighbourhood."

"The City of Paris is delighted with this choice, which marks the beginning of a major transformation of both the Montparnasse Tower and the city itself. Nouvelle AOM's project is perfectly aligned with our architectural vision: resolutely focused on uses, kind to the environment and exemplary in terms of energy efficiency. The consortium's subtle architectural intent will allow the Tower to recapture the hearts of the people of Paris," said Jean-Louis Missika, deputy mayor of Paris for urban planning, architecture, attractiveness, economic development and the Greater Paris (Grand Paris) initiatives.

"Scheduled to be unveiled in time for the Olympic Games, the revamped tower will become an iconic landmark in Paris' modern cityscape – and it is already an immense source of pride," added Jean-Louis Missika.

Image courtesy of Nouvelle AOM

"When we took up the challenge of this exciting competition, our focus was on revealing the beauty of the Tour Montparnasse from the inside out. We achieved this by incorporating radically new uses and crafting a complete sustainable 'green' makeover of the facade. The aim is to make the Tower an icon of the 21st century energy revolution," said the consortium.

The competition has also opened an exhibition presenting the seven projects shortlisted for the competition and showcasing the winning design at Pavillion de l’Arsenal, Paris. 

Featuring large scale models, videos and a journey to the heart of the architectural thinking behind the different projects, the exhibition is intended for the people of Paris as well as visitors to the capital. 

Top image courtesy of nouvelle AOM / RSI studio / IDA+

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