Paris, a city beloved for its preserved architecture and 19th century skyline, has fiercely opposed the construction of a 180-metre pyramidal skyscraper called Tour Triangle.

In a recent heated debate, Paris’ city council thwarted the notion of the 43-storey tower in the Porte de Versailles neighbourhood, reviving past controversy over the unwelcomed Montparnasse Tower more than 40 years ago.

If ever built, the glassy structure would still stand lower than the 209-metre Montparnasse and the Eiffel Tower, which commands the skyline at 324 metres.

However, while Mayor Anne Hidalgo supports the proposal, council voted 83-78 in a secret ballot against the Herzog & de Meuron design, initially approved in July 2013.

Over the past two years, opposing voices have deemed the office tower both a future centre in Paris, as well as an eye-sore. UNESCO, the United Nation’s cultural body, cautioned that high towers would ruin “one of the few remaining horizontal cities.”

For now, Mayor Hidalgo intends to fight the vote and reignite the intended completion date of 2017.