Johan Otto von SpreckelsenJohan Otto von Spreckelsen (4 May 1929 – 16 March 1987) was a Danish architect, best known for designing the Grande Arche of La Défense in Puteaux, near Paris. He directed the creation of several modern churches in Denmark. LifeHe was born in Viborg and studied at the Viborg Katedralskole and Royal Academy of Arts in Copenhagen. He later became associate professor at the Academy and from 1978 he was professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture.
Grands Projets of François MitterrandThe Grands Projets of François Mitterrand (variants: Grands Travaux or Grands Projets Culturels; officially: Grandes Opérations d'Architecture et d'Urbanisme) was an architectural programme to provide modern monuments in Paris, the city of monuments, symbolising France's role in art, politics and the economy at the end of the 20th century. The programme was initiated by François Mitterrand, the President of France, during his two terms in office (1981-1995).
Arc de TriompheThe Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile (UK: , US: , French:; "Triumphal Arch of the Star"), often simply called the Arc de Triomphe, is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, France. It is located at the western end of the Champs-Élysées, at the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle—formerly known as the "Place de l'Étoile"—named for the star-shaped configuration formed by the convergence of twelve radiating avenues.Erik ReitzelErik Reitzel (10 May 1941 – 6 February 2012) was a Danish civil engineer who started work in 1964 and was for many years a professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and the Technical University of Denmark, in the disciplines of bearing structures and structural design. His research enabled him to discover the fundamental correlation between fracture, minimal structures and growth.
La DéfenseLa Défense (French:) is a major business district situated in the Greater Paris metropolitan area in Île-de-France, at the western end of the French capital’s historic axis. The district is home to the headquarters of numerous major French and foreign multinationals, as well as that of the Paris Bourse (Euronext) and European Banking Authority - which represents 3,500,000 square metres (38,000,000 sq ft) of office space.
Architectural design competitionAn architectural competition is a type of design competition, in which an entity that intends to build new work, or is just seeking ideas, invites architects to submit design proposals. The winning proposal is usually chosen by an independent panel of design professionals, stakeholders (such as government and local representatives, the leadership of a cultural institution, etc.) or public opinion. The effect of architectural competitions varies with competition format.
François MitterrandPresident of France from 1981 to 1995Member of the National Assemblyfor Nièvre's 3rd constituencyIn office6 December 1962 – 21 May 1981Preceded byJehan Faulquier [fr]Succeeded byBernard BardinSenator for NièvreIn office26 April 1959 – 13 December 1962Preceded byJean Doussot [fr]Succeeded byDaniel Benoist [fr]Member of the National Assembly for NièvreIn office10 November 1946 – 8 December 1958Preceded byRoger Gillot [fr]Succeeded byJehan FaulquierPersonal detailsBornFrançois Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand(1916-10-26)26 October 1916Jarnac, FranceDied8 January 1996(1996-01-08) (aged 79)Paris, FranceResting placeCimetière des Grands-Maisons, JarnacPartySocialist (from 1969)Other politicalaffiliationsCross of Fire (before 1936)Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance (1945–1964)Convention of Republican Institutions (1964–1971)SpouseDanielle Gouze (m. 1944)Children4, including Jean-Christophe and MazarineRelativesFrédéric Mitterrand (nephew)EducationUniversity of ParisSciences PoSignatureWebsiteMitterrand InstituteMilitary serviceAllegianceFrench Third RepublicBranch/serviceFrench ArmyYears of service1937–19391939–1941Mitterrand on France–United States relationsRecorded 22 March 1984François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand (26 October 1916 – 8 January 1996) was President of France from 1981 to 1995.
DenmarkDenmark is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark, also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionallyunitary state that includes the autonomous territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland in the north Atlantic Ocean. Metropolitan Denmark, also called "continental Denmark" or "Denmark proper", consists of the northern Jutlandpeninsula and an archipelago of 406 islands.
PuteauxPuteaux (French pronunciation:) is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located in the heart of the Hauts-de-Seinedepartment, 8.7 kilometres (5.4 mi) from the centre of Paris. La Défense, Paris's business district hosting the tallest buildings in the metropolitan area, extends over the northern part of Puteaux and parts of the neighbouring communes Courbevoie and Nanterre. The inhabitants of Puteaux are called Putéoliens in French.
LouvreThe Louvre (French: Musée du Louvre [myze dy luvʁ] ) is a national art museum in Paris, France. It is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the city's 1st arrondissement (district) and home to some of the most canonical works of Western art, including the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory. The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace, originally built in the late 12th to 13th century under Philip II.
MonumentA monument is a type of structure created to commemorate a person or event, or which has become relevant to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times, or cultural heritage, due to its artistic, historical, political, technical or architectural importance. Examples of monuments include statues, (war) memorials, historical buildings, and cultural assets.
ParisParis is the capital and largest city of France, with an estimated city population of 2.04 million in an area of 105.4 km2 (40.7 sq mi), as of January 2026, and a metropolitan population of 13.3 million (2023). Located on the Seine in the centre of the Île-de-France region, it is the largest metropolitan area and fourth-most populous city in the European Union (EU). Paris is nicknamed the "City of Light" mainly due to its leading role in the Age of Enlightenment.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.