It was a question of taking back once and for all these monumental Augean stables.
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 major renovation project on Friday.
The ensemble, classified as a historic monument, made up of three buildings built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, will partially reopen in spring 2024 (for the nave and adjoining galleries).
The complete reopening of the Grand Palais is expected in spring 2025.
Read also: Grand Palais: finished the architectural gesture, long live the restoration
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.
Removal of walls and partitions, fire safety, accessibility, restoration of roofs undertaken since 2016 (20,000 m2 over 35,000 m2), air conditioning, new routes ... all the work is financed by an envelope of 466 million euros - financed through grants, borrowing and sponsorship - approved in 2016.
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
”, explained to AFP Emmanuel Marcovitch, deputy director general of the Meeting of national museums-Grand Palais, assignor of 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 Étincelles
”, will open in the 15th arrondissement.
Read also: The pharaonic project of the Grand Palace definitely buried
"
We will remove everything that is not interesting
"
Symbol of a compartmentalization as absurd as it is rudimentary separating the national galleries of the Grand Palais from the spaces of the Palais de la Découverte, a bicycle chain recently locked a forgotten door of the public establishment dependent on Universcience.
“
We could exhibit this old chain as a souvenir,
” joked Belgian art historian Chris Dercon, head of the RMN-Grand Palais since 2019. The two museum entities will remain but “
greater porosity will be established between the arts. and sciences, and their respective audiences
, ”hoped François Quéré, Deputy Managing Director of Universcience.
A 5,000 m2 free space will eventually link the Champs-Élysées 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 find its "
architecture of light
", he added.
Read also: Franck Scurti invests the Nave of the Grand Palais
Designating the vaults of the Antin Palace, Christelle Linck, communication manager for Universcience, showed the wear and tear of time: “
they are under a net, masonry elements are falling.
The facings are stained.
The water infiltrates through the canopies
”.
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.
Around the nave, 3,700 m2 of restored balconies will be returned to the public.
And a thermal slab and filters under the canopy will prevent excessive cold and heat.
A reception capacity increased by 60%, thanks to the development of emergency exits, this is what the 13,500 m2 nave will gain, where 9,000 people will be able to cross paths there in the future 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.
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