"It should be one of the most beautiful places in Paris": the surroundings of the Louvre soon to be redesigned?

The reflection was already well advanced.

But we will have to start the discussions from scratch, or almost.

In question, the change of management at the Louvre.

At the end of May, Laurence des Cars was indeed appointed head of the most visited museum in the world, in place of Jean-Luc Martinez.

A transfer window that will take effect on September 1.

It will then be time for Ariel Weil, the mayor (PS) of Paris Center, to get in touch with the new owner of the place to present his project to her for what he calls "the vacant lot" and its surroundings.

Read alsoCulture, architecture, everyday life: in Paris, the Louvre district in full effervescence

“At first a little flabbergasted by our public announcements, Jean-Luc Martinez had ended up welcoming, and even accompanying well, our desire to requalify the square located between the east facade of the Louvre and the former town hall of the 1st arrondissement », Says the elected official.

The places break down as follows.

First, starting from the Louvre, ditches dug according to the will of André Malraux, where barracks are currently installed for workers operating at the Louvre.

Then, a sandy ground mainly used as a parking lot.

All this being the property of the institution.

Then comes the rue de l'Amiral-de-Coligny, wide, quite busy, in short, the opposite of how the City today imagines public space.

Finally, the surroundings of the former town hall of the 1st arrondissement and the church of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois.

Complete "the perfection of this neighborhood"

“It should be one of the most beautiful places in Paris. He therefore needs a project at his height, continues Ariel Weil. I had suggested to Jean-Luc Martinez that the town hall of Paris Center and the Louvre carry out a joint architectural study to redesign this square, then that everyone do their work at home. I even promised that we would finance it, because we are in a much shorter time than the Louvre. I hope that this project will succeed during my mandate. Or that it is at least engaged. This must be the last centerpiece of the puzzle, completing the perfection of this neighborhood. "

But to do what? It will be under study to determine. The avenues for reflection already exist. "This project will make it possible to bring a new space of nature right in the center of the capital and to create an area of ​​exchange and local life, while respecting the aesthetics of the facade of the Louvre", thus presented the program of Anne Hidalgo (PS) during the municipal elections. With, in particular, the idea of ​​creating a participatory vegetable garden in the ditches. Which had not failed to make some scream.