The first third-generation office building, Les Miroirs was also the first project led by Henri La Fonta in La Défense. The architect, who would become one of the most prominent figures in the district, wanted this building to “change tastes” but also to showcase the technical advances made in the use of reinforced concrete structures.

In stark contrast to most of the buildings of the time (1980), Les Miroirs consists of eight buildings grouped around a square. The square features a pond with cylinders decorated by Deverne.

A veritable fortress with its 16 floors and reflective glass facade and black South African granite, the building houses the headquarters of Saint-Gobain.

Before becoming an architect, Henri La Fonta first tried his hand at sculpture and painting. However, his training at the École Camondo led him to architecture. He gained his first experience in 1951 in Morocco as an assistant, then returned to Paris in the 1960s. There, he worked for several design offices.

In 1977, he founded his own agency, which quickly made a name for itself thanks to the creativity and conceptual rigor he demonstrated in his projects. In La Défense, Henri La Fonta was the main instigator of the office building revival in the 1980s. The business district owes him Les Miroirs as well as the Pascal and Voltaire towers.