Designed by Odile Decq and Benoit Cornette, the BPO Building in Montgermont, France is now being threatened by a demolition permit. Inaugurated in 1990 and having won no less than 12 awards in its lifetime - including a Golden Lion at the 1996 Venice Biennale - the building has been widely lauded for its technical innovations, including a double-glazed suspended façade and panoramic elevators. It has appeared as the focus of theses internationally, and is featured at the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine and Palais de Chaillot, illustrating its pivotal role in architectural growth. It was one of the first buildings in the 90s to demonstrate an acute response to the quality of workplaces, and stands as an example of conscious, thoughtful design.
Though up for demolition for financial reasons, the massive 7-hectare plot of land and existing building could just as easily be repurposed and reused. A petition at change.org, backed by several architects and critics including Michael Sorkin, asks for the preservation of this iconic piece of architecture, and brings to light the issue of demolition of significant buildings in the 20th century.
View more photos and learn more about the building here, and sign the petition to save it here.
