Paris' Grand Palais Completes Five-year Renovation
PARIS — The Grand Palais has fully reopened following the most comprehensive overhaul ever undertaken of the storied Paris landmark, built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition.
After unveiling the main nave of the glass-and-steel building last year, just in time for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, officials on Thursday celebrated the completion of the five-year, 486 million euro renovation.
More from WWD
Chanel Celebrates U.K. Centenary With a Picasso, Ballet and English Stars
Queen Camilla Repeats Her Royal Uniform With Chanel Cap-toe Pumps for Royal Ascot 2025
Mariah Carey Goes All Black in Knee-high Chanel Boots and Knit Tom Ford Dress in London
The project led by Paris-based studio Chatillon Architectes involved knocking down a partition wall separating the front and back of the building, increasing the spaces accessible to the public by 140 percent.
The central axis is modular, thanks to a monumental curtain designed and produced by Chanel, the exclusive private sponsor of the renovation, via its craftsmanship hub Le19M.
The mobile partition, which is 49 feet long and 26 feet high, is made up of nine sections and required 720 hours of work by the specialty ateliers, collaborating under the supervision of Studio MTX, the interior design department of embroidery workshop Montex.
'It's the first time MTX has coordinated all of the workshops at Le19M on a joint architecture project,' said Mathieu Bassée, artistic director of Studio MTX.
The sides of the curtain are sewn with 70 ornamental strips, each representing a specific skill set. Lesage embroidered tweed with sequins and pearls, while Lemarié created a marquetry of feathers. Gold- and silversmith Goossens made hammered brass cherry blossoms, while hatmaker Maison Michel assembled sections of felt, grosgrain ribbon and raffia.
The color of the curtain was designed to match the signature grayish green of the building's ironwork.
'We did hundreds of color tests with and without light to ensure that it blended in as much as possible with all the shades of green found in the buildings. We also worked on the transparency of the fabric in order not to block out the light coming from the nave,' said Bassée.
Chanel resumed staging fashion shows at the Grand Palais last fall after a four-year break, and recently held a dinner at the venue's new restaurant, Le Grand Café, a soaring brasserie designed by Joseph Dirand with a terrace that looks across at the Petit Palais.
It will be joined by a mezzanine-level café, led by Michelin-starred chef Thierry Marx, named Réséda after the building's predominant hue.
The Chatillon team also added 40 elevators and lifts, alongside 30 staircases, to provide access to the labyrinth of modernized exhibition spaces on the upper floors.
'Get lost in the Grand Palais, because we keep getting lost here every day, so my guess is the same thing will happen to you,' Grand Palais president Didier Fusillier said jokingly.
Since taking over 18 months ago, he has set about revamping the functioning of the venue, which has a surface area of 775,000 square feet and 20 galleries to fill.
Planned events range from marquee exhibitions staged in tandem with major museums, such as the Pompidou Center, the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, to large-scale concerts and popular initiatives, like a temporary ice rink.
The Pompidou Center, which is preparing to shutter for its own extensive, multiyear renovation, coproduced the 'Niki de Saint Phalle, Jean Tinguely, Pontus Hulten' exhibition that opens to the public on Friday, as well as the 'Art Brut' show on display on another floor.
There is also an exhibition on 'Royal Tapestries' featuring 16 large-scale tapestries designed by Danish contemporary artists, coproduced by the Grand Palais with France's Manufactures Nationales and the Royal Danish Collection.
Laurent Le Bon, president of the Pompidou Center, called it a 'magical' moment of unity between institutions.
'There's been a lot of talk about cultural policy lately. Our response is to be stronger together,' he said. 'Despite the criticism, despite the diatribes, more than ever, the Pompidou Center is alive thanks to the genius of Didier Fusillier.'
His pointed remarks underscored the uncertainty facing the Palais de la Découverte, the scientific museum previously sealed off by a non-original partition wall. Its removal restores an original sightline that had not been seen since 1937, revealing the splendor of the adjoining Palais d'Antin, with its Beaux-Arts architecture and vast mosaic floor.
A group of employees of Universcience, which runs the museum, clustered outside on Thursday morning to draw attention to their petition demanding clarity about the fate of the institution, which housed a planetarium as well as another room dedicated to electricity.
Fusillier said that he had no intention of 'ejecting' science from the building, but said it made no sense to have the Palais de la Découverte operate separately from the rest.
'I don't understand why people want it to go back to how it was before, because it didn't work. It was a catastrophe,' he said. 'We want people to be able to see the building in its entirety because taxpayer money paid for this, after all, so I think they deserve to enjoy it.'
Best of WWD
Celebrity Style at Coachella Through the Years: Taylor Swift, Amy Winehouse and More [PHOTOS]
From John Galliano to Paul Smith, Designers Who've Created Christmas Trees at Claridge's
The Most Over-the-top Hats From the Royal Ascot Races Through the Years
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
2 hours ago
- CNN
Bezos and Sanchez arrive in Venice before wedding
Bezos and Sanchez arrive in Venice before wedding Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez arrived in Venice, Italy before their wedding. The couple was spotted entering the Aman Venice hotel. 00:19 - Source: CNN Vertical Trending Now 16 videos Bezos and Sanchez arrive in Venice before wedding Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez arrived in Venice, Italy before their wedding. The couple was spotted entering the Aman Venice hotel. 00:19 - Source: CNN Why Japan has a rice crisis Rice prices in Japan have nearly doubled in the past year, exacerbating the country's cost of living crisis. CNN's Hanako Montgomery explains how this rice crisis emerged. 01:17 - Source: CNN Brad Pitt gets candid about recovery Brad Pitt opened up about his recovery experience in an interview on 'Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard.' The actor talked about getting to know Shepard, who is also in recovery, through an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting they both attended. 00:48 - Source: CNN Helicopter fails landing attempt near waterfront restaurant A helicopter crash-landed near a waterfront restaurant in Clay Township, Michigan. Clay Township police said minor injuries were reported. The FAA is investigating the cause of the crash. 00:31 - Source: CNN Alligator found in basement after fire Milwaukee firefighters rescued an alligator in the basement while responding to a house fire. No one was inside and no firefighters were hurt, according to the Milwaukee Fire Department. 00:16 - Source: CNN Truck hangs off bridge in China Social media footage captured a truck hanging off a bridge in Guizhou Province in southwest China as heavy rains caused landslides at the start of monsoon season. 00:41 - Source: CNN Rubin Observatory reveals breathtaking views of space The Vera C. Rubin Observatory released its first images, showcasing millions of galaxies. The images are also expected to reveal thousands of previously unknown space objects. 01:07 - Source: CNN Iconic taxi may vanish forever Hong Kong's government announced the shift away from the city's iconic red taxis toward multicolored electric and hybrid vehicles. Toronto native Alan Wu has refurbished one to keep the nostalgia alive for himself and others among the city's diaspora. 01:58 - Source: CNN Caves near China's 'Avatar Mountains' found packed with decade-old trash A hidden environmental crisis is unfolding in ancient caves near China's Zhangjiajie Forest Park, famed for its massive quartz-sandstone pillar formations, which are said to have inspired the floating scenery that appears in the 2009 Hollywood blockbuster 'Avatar.' Viral social media videos showing piles of trash in the area, some reportedly dumped over a decade ago, are prompting a mass cleanup of the karst caves. 00:59 - Source: CNN 50 years of 'Jaws' and shark attacks As Steven Spielberg's summer blockbuster 'Jaws' turns 50, CNN's Harry Enten figures out how likely it is to be attacked by a shark and whether we should fear the waters. 01:57 - Source: CNN The NHL Stanley Cup's perfect imperfections The Stanley Cup is one of the most iconic trophies in all of sports, but one of the reasons the NHL's championship trophy is so lionized is its perfect imperfections. CNN's Coy Wire spoke to The Keeper of the Cup Howie Borrow for a tour of some of the trophy's character-building bloopers. 01:02 - Source: CNN Storm chaser captures 'unprecedented' view of monster hailstones falling from sky Storm chaser and research scientist Sean Waugh has documented softball sized (or greater) hailstones in freefall with an ultra-high-tech camera mounted on a retrofitted research vehicle. The goal – to study and better understand what makes gigantic hail form, and how to better detect it and ultimately improve severe weather warnings. Sean speaks with CNN Meteorologist Derek Van Dam while on the road, capturing imagery of this very impactful and expensive natural phenomenon. (edited) 01:47 - Source: CNN Flash flood destroys apartment building An apartment building in West Virginia partially collapsed as flash floods hit the area. The governor's office said at least five people are dead and four people remain missing following the floods. 00:31 - Source: CNN After talking to hundreds of dads, this podcaster shares his two biggest lessons Dr. John Delony speaks to millions of listeners on his popular podcast about mental health, family and relationships. As a therapist, he's used to offering advice to struggling fathers, but we asked him about the biggest lessons he's learned as a dad. 01:32 - Source: CNN Rare deep-sea squid filmed alive for first time Scientists have captured the first-ever footage of the elusive Gonatus antarcticus squid alive in its deep-sea habitat. CNN's Jeremy Roth describes the rare encounter. For more on this story, visit 01:12 - Source: CNN Trump draws boos and cheers at Kennedy Center President Donald Trump drew charged reactions of both admiration and ire at the Kennedy Center's opening night of "Les Misérables." 00:29 - Source: CNN
CNN
2 hours ago
- CNN
Bezos and Sanchez arrive in Venice before wedding
Bezos and Sanchez arrive in Venice before wedding Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez arrived in Venice, Italy before their wedding. The couple was spotted entering the Aman Venice hotel. 00:19 - Source: CNN Vertical Trending Now 16 videos Bezos and Sanchez arrive in Venice before wedding Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez arrived in Venice, Italy before their wedding. The couple was spotted entering the Aman Venice hotel. 00:19 - Source: CNN Why Japan has a rice crisis Rice prices in Japan have nearly doubled in the past year, exacerbating the country's cost of living crisis. CNN's Hanako Montgomery explains how this rice crisis emerged. 01:17 - Source: CNN Brad Pitt gets candid about recovery Brad Pitt opened up about his recovery experience in an interview on 'Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard.' The actor talked about getting to know Shepard, who is also in recovery, through an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting they both attended. 00:48 - Source: CNN Helicopter fails landing attempt near waterfront restaurant A helicopter crash-landed near a waterfront restaurant in Clay Township, Michigan. Clay Township police said minor injuries were reported. The FAA is investigating the cause of the crash. 00:31 - Source: CNN Alligator found in basement after fire Milwaukee firefighters rescued an alligator in the basement while responding to a house fire. No one was inside and no firefighters were hurt, according to the Milwaukee Fire Department. 00:16 - Source: CNN Truck hangs off bridge in China Social media footage captured a truck hanging off a bridge in Guizhou Province in southwest China as heavy rains caused landslides at the start of monsoon season. 00:41 - Source: CNN Rubin Observatory reveals breathtaking views of space The Vera C. Rubin Observatory released its first images, showcasing millions of galaxies. The images are also expected to reveal thousands of previously unknown space objects. 01:07 - Source: CNN Iconic taxi may vanish forever Hong Kong's government announced the shift away from the city's iconic red taxis toward multicolored electric and hybrid vehicles. Toronto native Alan Wu has refurbished one to keep the nostalgia alive for himself and others among the city's diaspora. 01:58 - Source: CNN Caves near China's 'Avatar Mountains' found packed with decade-old trash A hidden environmental crisis is unfolding in ancient caves near China's Zhangjiajie Forest Park, famed for its massive quartz-sandstone pillar formations, which are said to have inspired the floating scenery that appears in the 2009 Hollywood blockbuster 'Avatar.' Viral social media videos showing piles of trash in the area, some reportedly dumped over a decade ago, are prompting a mass cleanup of the karst caves. 00:59 - Source: CNN 50 years of 'Jaws' and shark attacks As Steven Spielberg's summer blockbuster 'Jaws' turns 50, CNN's Harry Enten figures out how likely it is to be attacked by a shark and whether we should fear the waters. 01:57 - Source: CNN The NHL Stanley Cup's perfect imperfections The Stanley Cup is one of the most iconic trophies in all of sports, but one of the reasons the NHL's championship trophy is so lionized is its perfect imperfections. CNN's Coy Wire spoke to The Keeper of the Cup Howie Borrow for a tour of some of the trophy's character-building bloopers. 01:02 - Source: CNN Storm chaser captures 'unprecedented' view of monster hailstones falling from sky Storm chaser and research scientist Sean Waugh has documented softball sized (or greater) hailstones in freefall with an ultra-high-tech camera mounted on a retrofitted research vehicle. The goal – to study and better understand what makes gigantic hail form, and how to better detect it and ultimately improve severe weather warnings. Sean speaks with CNN Meteorologist Derek Van Dam while on the road, capturing imagery of this very impactful and expensive natural phenomenon. (edited) 01:47 - Source: CNN Flash flood destroys apartment building An apartment building in West Virginia partially collapsed as flash floods hit the area. The governor's office said at least five people are dead and four people remain missing following the floods. 00:31 - Source: CNN After talking to hundreds of dads, this podcaster shares his two biggest lessons Dr. John Delony speaks to millions of listeners on his popular podcast about mental health, family and relationships. As a therapist, he's used to offering advice to struggling fathers, but we asked him about the biggest lessons he's learned as a dad. 01:32 - Source: CNN Rare deep-sea squid filmed alive for first time Scientists have captured the first-ever footage of the elusive Gonatus antarcticus squid alive in its deep-sea habitat. CNN's Jeremy Roth describes the rare encounter. For more on this story, visit 01:12 - Source: CNN Trump draws boos and cheers at Kennedy Center President Donald Trump drew charged reactions of both admiration and ire at the Kennedy Center's opening night of "Les Misérables." 00:29 - Source: CNN
CNN
2 hours ago
- CNN
Robert Downey Jr. is the biggest Pedro Pascal fan
Pedro Pascal is pretty beloved these days, including by other celebs. The actor has been filming the forthcoming Marvel movie 'Avengers: Doomsday' in the UK, where his costar Robert Downey Jr. had some words of praise for Pascal in a new Vanity Fair profile. But ever humble, Pascal told the publication that he knows not everyone is thrilled about his entry into the Marvel universe. 'I'm more aware of disgruntlement around my casting than anything I've ever done,' he said. ''He's too old. He's not right. He needs to shave.'' He's been taking cues from Downey. 'He's just so immediately generous and inviting that you feel like you can be afraid, you can be hungry, you can be ambivalent,' Pascal said. The admiration is mutual. 'Pascal's slow trajectory to becoming a household name who is on a wildly hot streak kind of reaffirms my faith in our industry,' Downey said. There are few details have been shared publicly about their upcoming 'Avengers' assembly. Downey is playing Victor Von Doom and Pascal is playing Reed Reynolds. Downey has previously played Tony Stark/Iron Man in the Marvel movies.
