Page 116 - AIT0925_E-Paper

VERKAUF UND PRÄSENTATION • RETAIL AND PRESENTATION

Foto: Antoine Mercusot, FR-Paris

Rotunde des Palais d’Antin, an der Avenue Franklin Roosevelt ... • Palais d’Antin on Avenue Franklin Roosevelt ....

Foto: Charly Broyez, FR-Paris Foto: Cyrille Weiner, FR-Paris

... mit elegantem, wie eine Schleppe wirkendem Treppenaufgang • …. with an elegant staircase resembling a train Technik up to date gebracht: neue Deckenpaneele • Technology brought up to date: new ceiling panels

W hen the gates opened to the public for the Paris World Fair in May 1900, the Carnavalet in Paris and the Bains Municipaux in Strasbourg, and the redesign of the ent-
Grand Palais was considered a sensation, a masterpiece of openness and light
rance- and public areas of the Arc de Triomphe. Chatillon Architectes not only renovated
and a fluid and welcoming space. Not far from the ensemble stood the Eiffel Tower, the main nave for the Olympic Games, but also refurbished and restructured the entire
which had been built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle. The magnificent stone palace, 77,000 square metre Grand Palais to make it more visitor-friendly. More than 3,000 dra-
which has been built in the Beaux-Arts style, surprised visitors with its filigree, “réséda”- wings and plans from the archives served as templates to restore the building’s former
green iron construction. Its highlight – the enormous glass roof – was topped by an coherence and adapt it to today’s technical, ecological and functional requirements.
imposing 44-metre-high dome. From then on, the 240-metre-long (!) main building has
hosted exhibitions and trade fairs of all kinds and even periodic horse races. Long before Chatillon Architectes restored the original sightlines
the term “multifunctional” was invented, the complex designed by Henri Deglane, Albert
Louvet, Albert Thomas and Charles Girault demonstrated enormous flexibility. During its This has revealed the original beauty and coherence of the building ensemble, which
eventful history, it also served as a military hospital in the First World War. And during had been lost in recent decades due to fragmentation, outdated fixtures and confusing
the occupation in the Second World War, it was used by the German Wehrmacht for its circulation routes. Chatillon Architectes’ primary goal was to restore the original lines of
own purposes. Pierre Vivien modernized the northern part, which had been destroyed sight. The Parisian architects have reopened the original view between Place Jean Parrin
during the war, in the 1960s with a focus on safety and functionality. In the mid-1980s, and the Seine in the central section of the Grand Palais. This has created a new, central
the Renoir and Manet retrospectives, each attracting over 800,000 visitors, were among square inside that welcomes visitors and also helps them find their way around. Per-
the biggest crowd pullers. The fashion shows that Chanel has been staging in the large pendicular to this, a long visual- and physical axis now once again connects the Palais
domed hall since 2006 during Paris Fashion Week are legendary. During Advent, ice d’Antin, the central building and the domed main nave. For the first time since 1937, the
skaters can glide around indoors in the same venue. With so much event potential interior of the Grand Palais can once again be seen and experienced as a whole, exuding
and more than 120 years of history and architectural heritage, the recent renovation the generous spirit of 1900. According to Chatillon Architects, the final phase of restora-
required architects who were familiar with large-scale projects and listed buildings. tion has increased public access to the building by 140 percent. More than 40 new lifts
Chatillon Architectes met these requirements thanks to their many years of expertise. (including goods lifts) now guarantee accessibility. Thirty new staircases also increase
The portfolio of the 50-strong team includes, for example, the renovation of the Musée visitor numbers and comply with new fire-safety standards. Numerous galleries have

116 • AIT 9.2025