The renovation of the Grand Palais begins this Friday -

Eric Feferberg / AFP

No more fairs, parades and exhibitions: the Grand Palais, a major center of the arts and sciences for 120 years in the heart of Paris, begins its renovation from top to bottom on Friday.

The ensemble, classified as a historic monument, made up of three buildings built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, will reopen partially in spring 2024 (for the nave and adjoining galleries) and completely in spring 2025.

Decided ten years ago due to deep degradation, the site was revised at the end of 2020 for a “more sober and ecological” concept, at the request of the Ministry of Culture.

Tearing down walls and partitions, fire safety, accessibility, restoration of roofs undertaken since 2016 (20,000 m2 over 35,000 m2), air conditioning, new routes ... all this must be done with an envelope approved in 2016: 466 million euros financed by grants, borrowing and sponsorship.

Grand ephemeral Palace

Among the most expensive works of Hercules in the initial plan, the excavation of thousands of square meters under the nave was abandoned.

“There were very strong risks when digging in a flood zone.

The previous project broke a lot of things.

By maintaining the existing one, we could keep the same surface area, ”explains Emmanuel Marcovitch, deputy director-general of the meeting of national museums-Grand Palais, responsible for all the buildings.

An “ephemeral Grand Palais” was built by the architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte at the Champ de Mars, until the nave could host Olympic Games events, fairs and parades in 2024 under the largest glass roof in Europe. elegant reseda green frames.

For exhibitions at the Palais d'Antin, which has housed the Palais de la Découverte since 1937, another ephemeral structure, “les Etincelles”, will open in the 15th arrondissement.

Rediscover an "architecture of light"

A 5,000 m2 free space will link the Champs-Elysées and the banks of the Seine: a single entrance will allow visitors to wander for free, enjoying cultural events without buying a ticket.

“We are going to remove anything that is not interesting.

This building had been partitioned with, in the years 1960, up to sixteen occupants who had offices there, underlines Chris Dercon.

The project will also make it possible to rediscover its “architecture of light”, he adds.

Everywhere, exhibition spaces will be regained.

A playful children's gallery will be set up under the Rotonde d'Antin, on the site of the old horse riding arena.

Thanks to the development of emergency exits, 9,000 people will be able to cross paths there against 5,600 before the pandemic.

A necessity in anticipation of the crowds for the 2024 Olympics.

Outside too, the Grand Palais has undergone its facelift.

The surrounding gardens will be redeveloped.

While statues had disappeared, stolen, and others fell to pieces at the risk of injuring passers-by, the whole, under a net since 2018, will be restored.

Contemporary designers will be called upon to restore those missing.

Paris

Paris: The Esplanade de la Défense soon transformed into an “urban park”

Paris

Paris: Tati Barbès, the headquarters of the AP-HP or a PSA garage will become housing

  • Big palace

  • Town planning

  • Culture

  • Paris