Hermitage Plaza Tower in Paris by Foster + Partners

November 06, 2012 - Paris Ile de France

France is to build 320-metre (1075-feet) high twin towers that will trump London's title as home to Europe's highest building.

Hermitage Plaza, designed by U.K.-based architects Foster and Partners, will provide 280,000 square meters of mixed-use space, housing a five-star hotel, 543 apartments, 35,000 square meters (376,737 square feet) of offices and 50,000 square meters of retail and restaurants.

Diamond-shaped in plan, the two towers will have a twisted form that tapers outwards as they grow in height.

The idea is to create a Manhattan in the French style in La Defense," said Emin Iskenderov, head of the Hermitage Group, which is developing the towers. "There are many people nowadays who want more than the traditional charming Paris apartment."

"We plan to sell the apartments and offices but we will keep the ownership of the retail and the hotel," he said, adding that he has already received interest from 4,000 parties to buy the 543 luxury, serviced apartments.

The project received planning permission in March and has since beaten back several legal challenges from local groups.

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