Daniel Libeskind's Skyscraper Will Be the First in This Historical French City

France's fourth largest city is finally set to grow vertically. Toulouse, a city founded in southwest section of the country around the second century B.C., will soon have its first-ever skyscraper. And it will be designed by none other than world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind .

The skyscraper—which will be called the Occitanie Tower after the region the city is in—will spiral almost 500 feet above Toulouse's skyline, dwarfing all other buildings in vicinity. Yet it's not only about the height; the Polish-American architect's design will incorporate some eco-friendly measures as well. Working in collaboration with the Paris-based landscape architect Nicolas Gilsoul, the duo have smartly carved a strip in the buildings exterior, which spirals upward. In this sliver, they have outfitted the exposed exterior with a verdant twist of plant life. "With its suspended gardens that change color during the seasons, the façade will reflect the tones of Toulouse and the brightness of this material will change perception of the space," Libeskind expressed in a statement. "The tower becomes a unique object in a vast urban space—the tower will not only become a destination, but also a defining public space."

Occitanie Tower will comprise 118,400 square-feet of office space, a hotel, 120 apartments, a restaurant with sweeping views of the city, commercial spaces, and offices for France's state-owned railway company, SNCF. "The Occitanie Tower will create both an iconic landmark for the city as well as create a strategic economic generator for the district," Libeskind continued. Studio Libeskind will collaborate on the project with Toulouse-based architect Francis Cardete. The team plans to complete the skyscraper by 2022.