An express project of only seven months allowed the construction on the Champ-de-Mars (7th century) - despite the opposition and the fears of local residents as well as certain politicians - of an ephemeral Grand Palais which today seems to be unanimity by its lightness and exterior elegance.
Between the Eiffel Tower and the Ecole Militaire thus arose this cross-shaped building reminiscent of the glass roof of the Grand Palais.
“It’s just a coincidence.
We were given land and surface.
The best answer was to use the arch as a structural element.
It was surprisingly echoed with that of the Eiffel Tower.
And the result is there, the shape recalls that of the Grand Palais.
But there was never any question of making a small Grand Palais, ”laughs Jean-Michel Wilmotte, the architect of this building, which was built for four years.
The ephemeral Grand Palais, with its 44 wooden arches, offers "a diagonal of 64 meters in the center, without a single post", explains architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte.
LP / Delphine Goldsztejn
A 40 million euro building
144 meters long for 10,000 square meters in its final dimension (which may extend to 18,000 square meters for the International Contemporary Art Fair (Fiac) and Paris Photo for one month a year), 44 wooden arches allow to offer an uninterrupted range of 51 meters wide in the transverse part and 33 meters in its depth. "And a diagonal of 64 meters in the center, without a single post," admires Jean-Michel Wilmotte again.
He salutes the team of the GL Events group, concessionaire of the site having respected demanding specifications and a budget of 40 million euros which will have to be paid by the Réunion des monuments nationaux-Grand Palais (RMN) by the revenues of the rental and contributions from the organizing committee for the Olympic Games, Paris 2024. In addition, there is the 350,000 euros in annual license fees that accrue to the City.
Read also Paris: 466 million euros to renovate the Grand Palais
For only a few days now, everything has been played out inside to finalize this extraordinary tool with the installation of huge metal racks for the lighting that will adapt to all the events scheduled for the coming months. "I like to say that it is the lunar wing in comparison with the solar wing of the Grand Palais", underlines Chris Dercon, president of the RMN. Here, a gray asphalt floor and a midnight blue canvas ceiling demanded by the site's other major partner create an elegant, sober and warm atmosphere. Television broadcasts of wrestling and judo events at the Olympic Games could not have supported lighted canopies. Paris 2024 plans to install stands there to accommodate 8,000 spectators.
However, two perspectives have been pierced with huge dark glazed windows.
On one side, the Military School, which overhangs this new wooden building by more than 10 meters.
On the other, opposite the Champ-de-Mars, the Eiffel Tower.
On the roof of the ephemeral Grand Palais, Emmanuel Marcovitch (in costume) and Chris Dercon, respectively Deputy Director General and President of Réunion des Musées Nationaux-Grand Palais.
LP / Delphine Goldsztejn
Covered with a transparent polymer canvas, the ephemeral Grand Palais “is like a UFO that has landed on the Champ-de-Mars.
It's aerial architecture, rejoices the president of the RMN.
We can see how this building of great technical complexity was constructed.
We can read the curves.
It's super clear ”.
"A symbol of cultural life will play out here"
Everything is therefore ready. “Today, we are thrilled to open this building after the health crisis. A symbol of cultural life will play out here ”, launches the visionary of the Grand Palais. “In Paris, we need a place like this one where great artists have passed with curiosity to imagine shows that they can launch beyond the more traditional meetings of fairs and exhibitions, or even competitions. sports ”, adds Jean-Michel Wilmotte.
The date of the resumption of cultural activities on May 19 is good news for everyone.
“Due to health uncertainties, events that should have taken place here in April, May and June 2021 are postponed.
Major events like the Fiac are maintained in October, just like Paris Photo in November.
In the fall of 2021, many fairs and shows will mark the rebirth of Paris ”, announces as good manager Emmanuel Marcovitch, Deputy CEO of RMN.
The ephemeral Grand Palais overlooks the Ecole Militaire on one side and the Eiffel Tower on the other.
LP / Delphine Goldsztejn
But starting this summer, Chris Dercon has imagined a rich and varied cultural program and at least three interdisciplinary shows.
“Happening Tempête”, on June 12 and 13, 2021, a choreography that will feature 400 dancers.
On June 17 and 18, 2021, to appreciate the scale of this immense room in a different way, the Palais Augmenté will be invited.
Through their smartphone, the public will see virtual works in the ephemeral Grand Palais.
Finally, from July 23 to 26, 2021, it will be a participatory fictional show, “Société en cours”.
This chameleon building, eco-responsible, which changes according to events, will only have a short time, however.
That of the vast renovation of the parent company, the Grand Palais, whose work is taking shape after years of hesitation and pharaonic budgets.
In September 2024, dismantling will begin.
"The building was made to be sold in pieces", underlines the architect.
Five main ones can be reused and reassembled elsewhere.
“We are studying the conditions under which we could stay until spring 2024, when we have committed to reopen the Grand Palais,” announces Emmanuel Marcovitch.
As if it were difficult to imagine - already - a Paris without an ephemeral Grand Palais.
In the shape of a cross, the building, covered with a transparent polymer canvas, should remain on the Champ-de-Mars until the end of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris 2024. LP / Delphine Goldsztejn
"Never again" claim the friends of Champ-de-Mars
Bernard Seydoux, president of the Friends of Champ-de-Mars, is part of the residents' committee set up by GL Events to monitor this site. But that does not prevent him from keeping a critical eye. “We have distributed information documents on acoustics to our members. This does not mean that we have joined the ephemeral Grand Palais. His watchword is also the same: "Never again". “We are not making an aesthetic judgment on this building. But it is not normal that we build a mastodon in such a green space which is a physical and mental health issue for Parisians, ”he assures us.
So, since the four legal remedies have not made it possible to prevent its realization, he will try, with the other members of the committee, to ensure that there will be no traffic nuisance, traffic flow. visitors and noise. “We are forced to accept what has come into force and which is now being built. But we will be very vigilant. "