Summary
- Paris’s Grand Palais reopened after a four-year renovation
- Chatillon Architectes restored its clarity, adding over 40 elevators and new promenades
- The 77,000 square meter landmark now blends historic grandeur with modern accessibility
The Grand Palais has officially reopened following a transformative four-year renovation. Led by Chatillon Architectes, this marked the most extensive restoration in the building’s 120-year history.
Originally constructed for the 1900 Universal Exhibition, the Beaux-Arts landmark has long stood as a symbol of French cultural excellence. The renovation sought to recover the building’s architectural clarity while adapting it for contemporary civic and cultural use. Guided by more than 3,000 archival plans, the architects reconnected fragmented volumes, removed obstructive partitions and reinstated long-lost sightlines. This included restoring the view between the Nave and the Palais de la Découverte.
Spanning an impressive 77,000 square meters, the revitalized Grand Palais now offers expanded public access, modernized galleries, as well as significantly improved circulation routes. A notable addition is a new free-flowing interior promenade. This pathway gracefully connects the Palais d’Antin and the Nef, extending from the Square Jean Perrin, all the way to the Seine, thereby creating a seamless and inviting journey through the magnificent structure. Furthermore, the integration of an advanced insulating system for the Nef slab served as a crucial enhancement, designed to extend the building’s operational lifespan and ensure its preservation for many future generations.
The restoration also introduced over 40 elevators and 30 staircases, making the building fully accessible for the first time. Complementing the architectural updates, custom furnishings by Atelier Senzu and a thoughtfully refreshed color palette. Green columns are artfully paired with pink and coral floors, adding a cohesive visual language that complements the building’s historic character while infusing a modern vibrancy.
With its grandeur meticulously restored and its functional flexibility profoundly renewed, the Grand Palais is poised to embark on its next century of cultural prominence. It stands ready to serve as a dynamic hub for major exhibitions, diverse public events, and a vibrant center for architectural appreciation. This iconic Parisian landmark once again affirms its role as a beacon where history, art and innovation converge.
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