Gare de l'Est: Overall view of facade and plaza

View before the major expansion of 1931, shows the original building of Duquesney (with some renovations of 1900).\u000a\u000a[The Gare de l'Est was opened in 1849 by the Compagnie du Chemin de Fer de Paris \u00E0 Strasbourg (the Paris-Strasbourg Railway Company) under the name 'Strasbourg platform.' This platform corresponds today with the hall for main-line trains, and was designed by the architect Fran\u00E7ois Duquesney. It was renamed the 'Gare de l'Est' in 1854, after the expansion of service to Mulhouse. Renovations to the station followed in 1885 and 1900. In 1931 it was doubled in size, with the new part of the station built symmetrically with the old part. This transformation changed the surrounding neighborhood significantly. On 4 October 1883, the Gare de l'Est saw the first departure of the Orient Express for Istanbul.] The most significant innovation for the railway station building type, however, was the integration of the fa\u00E7ade with the train-shed behind it, resulting in a wide arch over the centre of the fa\u00E7ade, as at Fran\u00E7ois Duquesney's Gare de l'Est (1847-1852).