Architecture and Design 2018
In 2018, an exhibition at the Archives Nationales will shine a spotlight on the architecture of the Grand Siècle (the 17th century, when France enjoyed cultural and political pre- eminence), which produced such marvels as the dome of the Invalides and the Colonnade, the easternmost façade of the Louvre – two iconic symbols of Paris. Built on the orders of a number of kings, from Henri IV to Louis XIV, these extraordinary monuments forged the reputations of François Mansart, Louis Le Vau and Jacques Lemercier, three architects whose work transformed both the physical space and the perception of Paris. Comprising rare historical documents, the exhibition at the Archives Nationales (Hôtel de Soubise) shows how the emerging cityscape was carefully documented in architectural drawings. Four centuries on, the greatest contemporary architects (Koolhaas, Nouvel, Ando, Gautrand, Saana, Wilmotte, Gehry) have added their stamp, in the form of bold, strikingly modern buildings. Current-day designs focus on making Paris a pleasant city to live in and get around – an approach that is increasingly leading the French capital along the path of pedestrianization and non-motorized transport. After turning the Seine quaysides over to pedestrians – thereby placing the heart of Paris and its two islands firmly back on the map of the aesthetic mind – the city council has carved out a cycle path along Rue de Rivoli, docking the space available for motorized transport (and cutting noise into the bargain). The redesign of the city’s squares, too, is proceeding apace. Following the renovation of Place de la République, Place du Panthéon will become a breathable space dotted with wooden benches and chairs by the autumn of 2018, while Place de la Nation will subsequently be covered by a smooth expanse of lawn, with traffic restricted to three lanes instead of the current seven.
[Show full text]