Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art in Paris Renovated by Jean Nouvel from 19th-Century Building
The new home of the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art in Paris, designed by Jean Nouvel, has reopened after renovating a 19th-century structure.Summary
The new headquarters of the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art in Paris, housed in a historic 19th-century building that French law prohibits from large-scale demolition, has been renovated and reopened in October 2025. The design was handled by world-renowned architect Jean Nouvel, known for works like the Institut du Monde Arabe and the Louvre Abu Dhabi. The building, originally the Grand Hôtel du Louvre completed in 1855, is an elegant Haussmann-style structure located near the Palais-Royal. Nouvel's renovation utilized the existing framework while transforming the interior into a modern exhibition space spanning 6,500m². Key features include a three-story atrium connecting the basement to the second floor, where movable floor platforms allow for flexible exhibition setups, and the addition of skylights to create dynamic lighting effects based on the time of day and weather.
(Source：日経クロステック)