Passerelle de l'Aigle

Enhancement of the Eagle Bridge

Paris La Défense has undertaken a major study to improve links between the business district and the cities of Courbevoie and Puteaux. One of the priority projects consists of renovating and enhancing the emblematic footbridges of the area, in particular the Aigle footbridge. Several other structures were delivered in 2020.

This project has a double objective, both to restore structures damaged by time and to give an overall coherence and identity to the footbridges of Paris La Défense.

The world-renowned architectural firm Dietmar Feichtinger Architectes was commissioned by Paris La Défense to rehabilitate these structures, because in addition to technical renovation, the project also involves enhancing the aesthetic value of the structures. Thus, the footbridges have new coverings, illuminated slabs and night lighting in order to improve user comfort (especially for people with reduced mobility).

Since the end of 2020, the Aigle footbridge has been undergoing a technical renovation that consists of repairing the concrete and rainwater pipes, renovating the waterproofing and coverings, completing the railings and replacing the lighting, to ensure the structure's durability.

Restoring legibility, urban function and identity to aging structures

More than just a technical renovation and a refurbishment of the structures, the objective of the enhancement of the footbridges is to give an urban function to these structures through their illumination, the creation of relaxation areas, the consideration of user comfort (accessibility for disabled persons, for example) or the proposal of a discovery route of the district.

This legibility and identity is reflected in the creation of a red thread, a common language between all the footbridges that allows a continuous and coherent reading, both symbolic and physical. The architect's proposal to materialize this red thread by means of luminous ribbons, and the harmonization of the coverings and railings, gives the whole an identity that does not exist today. The footbridges are thus seams symbolized by bands of color integrated into the ground allowing the crossing of the circular boulevard.

Connecting neighborhoods and creating gateways to the historic heart of Paris La Défense

These footbridges, which are veritable urban staples, contribute to the urban integration of the expressways, to the affirmation of centralities and to the creation of physical and visual relationships between several territories. These pedestrian connections are physical and symbolic links that aim to connect the territories to each other, and the cities to the slab, with the major challenge of transforming these footbridges into more engaging public spaces.

Enhancing the urban and architectural heritage of Paris La Défense

The footbridges are a way to rediscover the city and the territory of Paris La Défense. Unique and atypical because of its vertical architecture and its history, Paris La Défense also conceals grandiose panoramas, spectacular buildings, but also lesser-known landscaped viewpoints. This historical heritage and this urban landscape are the very identity of Paris La Défense.

To highlight this singularity, the architectural proposal integrates glass desks and screens in the railings of each walkway. The "screens", entrusted to an artist, will thus materialize windows on the city and invite users to rediscover a landscape or a particular viewpoint from the structure. The desks will propose a discovery path of the history of the district. Like the structures, these elements will be backlit at night. Paris La Défense has undertaken a major study to improve links between the business district and the cities of Courbevoie and Puteaux. One of the priority projects consists of renovating and enhancing the emblematic footbridges of the area, in particular the Aigle footbridge. Several other structures were delivered in 2020.

Did you know ?

December 15, 1840; the boat carrying the ebony and bronze sarcophagus of Emperor Napoleon I docked at the Courbevoie landing stage. A column surmounted by the imperial eagle was installed for this occasion at the head of the Neuilly bridge and a temple was erected to receive the coffin which was buried at the Invalides. The bronze eagle that overhangs the Place Napoléon I, in the Saisons district, bears witness to this event, as does the name given to the bridge.