This is undoubtedly the last twist orchestrated by Laurent Bayle before leaving office on November 1: to settle the dispute between the Philharmonie de Paris and the architect Jean Nouvel. The two parties concluded Thursday a transactional agreement
"by the effect of which it is terminated in a fully satisfactory manner for each of the parties to all their disputes, all areas combined, especially on costs and deadlines."
The architect and the concert hall blame differences and misunderstandings on this breakdown in the dialogue that led Jean Nouvel to refuse to attend the inauguration of the building on January 14, 2015, then to take yet another legal action. , highly publicized, in October 2019.
Read alsoOpening of a judicial investigation in the dispute between Jean Nouvel and the Philharmonie de Paris
The agreement between the two parties is made in the name of respect and protection of
"cultural public interest"
, a way out of an endless duel. This was due to a too low costing of the building cost at the time of the architectural competition which saw, in 2007, the choice of the project of Jean Nouvel. Then to the Philharmonie's desire to contain the overruns of various improvements or modifications desired by the architect. At the end of 2012-2013, he demanded a total overhaul of the project, which was refused to him. Estimated at 118 million euros at the time of the competition, in 2007, this budget was revised to 218 million euros after the tender procedure to end at 328 million in 2015. The architect had been excluded from the project management from 2013 to 2015.
A building still unfinished
Besides the legal battles, the conflict between the architect and the Philharmonic left the building unfinished.
The arrival, with the cave, remains an undecided area between the escalators and the entrance to the exhibition space.
The foyer and its circulation spaces are very basic.
Today's agreement provides for an envelope of 15 million euros for Jean Nouvel to finish them.
"The project management - provided by Mr. Jean Nouvel and the company Ateliers Jean Nouvel -, on the one hand, the public establishment Cité de la Musique - Philharmonie de Paris, on the other hand, no longer have any claim. , of whatever nature, towards each other, including in respect of intellectual property rights resulting from the realization of the Philharmonie de Paris. Thus, Mr. Jean Nouvel, the company of Ateliers Jean Nouvel and the public establishment of the Cité de la musique - Philharmonie de Paris desist and definitively waive all claims, proceedings and actions, before any jurisdiction whatsoever ”,
specifies the press release. Sign that the hatchet is indeed buried, Jean Nouvel was to attend Thursday at the evening organized in thehonor of Laurent Bayle on the occasion of his departure.
