Initiated by President François Mitterrand as part of the capital’s major works, the Grande Arche de la Fraternité was designed by the Danish architect Johan Otto von Spreckelsen and the Danish engineer Erik Reitzel. The 110.9-metre high hollow cube is located on the esplanade of La Défense at the end of the historical axis of Paris. The monumental building of glass, marble and concrete is supported by a framework of twelve pillars. It covers an area of one hectare and weighs more than 30,000 tonnes. It was inaugurated on the occasion of the Bicentenary of the French Revolution on 14 July 1989, in the presence of all the G7 participants.