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www.familytc.com
As you might know Family Travel Concierge is always strives for excellence. To make excellent experience for all of our clients we are partnering with the best of the best. One of great partners is Context Travel offering tours around the world.
Here is their take on a little known side of Paris architecture - contemporary designed by foreign-born architects.
Paris has always been on the leading edge of architectural innovation and one might even say that the construction of new buildings lives in its very DNA: the early Gothic masterpiece of Notre Dame Cathedral, the austere French Baroque façade of the Louvre, or the daring construction and unconventional materials of the Eiffel Tower. However, Paris is less well known for its contemporary architecture, and, perhaps least of all, for its buildings and monuments recently designed by foreign-born architects. While most current, large-scale architectural projects are awarded to local, big-shot names there are a few interesting recent works by those born outside l’Hexagone that are worthy of a visit. And if this whets your appetite, you might consider our walk Les Grands Projets, A Contemporary Vision of the Parisian Cityscape, during your next visit to the city (conducted by Context Travel).
Frank Gehry, Cinémathèque Française (2005)
51 rue de Bercy, 75012
The American-Canadian architect Frank Gehry is arguably the most recognizable name in contemporary architecture today. Yet his first building in Paris, which was originally conceived in 1989 for the American Center and now houses the Cinémathèque Française, is often overlooked by visitors to the city of light. The asymmetrical design and nestling of volumes is typical of Gehry's deconstructivist, post-modern style and should be familiar to anyone that has seen the architect's more famous Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain or the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Gehry referred to the Paris building as a "dancer raising her tutu" and this cheeky nod to popular entertainment in the city seems fitting for a space that now hosts regular film screenings and contains the largest archives of films and movie related documents and objects in the world.
Dietmar Feichtinger, Passerelle Simone-de-Beauvoir (2006)
Quai de Bercy, 75012 - Quai François Mauriac, 75013
Nearby Gehry's only major building in Paris is the newest bridge to span the Seine river, which was designed by Austrian architect Dietmar Feichtinger. The Passerelle Simone-de-Beauvoir, named after the French existentialist philosopher and writer, is a pedestrian-only bridge that appears to hover effortlessly above the water and is constructed of minimal materials (steel and wood).
Dietmar Feichtinger, Passerelle Simone-de-Beauvoir (2006)
Quai de Bercy, 75012 - Quai François Mauriac, 75013
Two intersecting curves form a lense-like shape that allows for a public seating area in the center. Due to this double layer construction, pedestrians can choose multiple avenues to cross the bridge, which connects the Parc de Bercy on the Right Bank with the plaza in front of one of Françoise Mitterand's Grands Projets, the Bibliothèque Nationale, on the Left Bank. All in all this makes for a very unique panoramic view of a contemporary Paris.
Herzog and de Meuron, Logements (2000)
19 rue des Suisses, 75014
The Swiss design team of Herzog and de Meuron is one of the most respected architectural firms in the world and is perhaps best known for its transformation of an old power station into the Tate Modern museum in London. The team's first project in Paris is series of apartment buildings in the Montparnasse neighborhood. Located on the appropriately named rue des Suisses, it's a venture on a more modest scale. These logements were the winning submission for a competition sponsored by the city's Public Housing Agency and are actually comprised of two separate buildings: the "infill" structure that is built into the space between two already-existing apartment buildings, and a free-standing structure in the courtyard that is not visible from the street.
Herzog and de Meuron, Logements (2000)
19 rue des Suisses, 75014
The facade of the "infill" structure is slightly curved and is covered by a grid of metal shutters that form a continuous screen over the surface, only to be disrupted when one of the residents decides to open their window. With no other completed or upcoming projects in Paris, it is definitely worth a trip to the south of Paris for a glimpse of Herzog and de Meuron's innovative approach to urban living.
Ricardo Bofill, Siège Social Cartier (2003)
33 rue Boissy d'Anglas, 75008
For those looking to see contemporary architecture in central Paris, head towards the area around the Madeleine church to view Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill's design for the city's headquarters of the French luxury jewelry company Cartier. The inspiration behind Bofill's structure was Paris' famous and nearby covered passageways that are filled with chic shops and elegant cafés. The construction includes several glass and metal framed buildings with enameled facades that reflect the shimmering hues of the carefully chosen pietra serena sandstone that forms the support for the structure. The complex's several buildings are each named after a different type of gemstone (diamond, ruby, sapphire) and are home to offices, shops, and showrooms, as well as a restaurant, bar, and even a gymnasium.
Zaha Hadid, Mobile Art Pavillon (2011)
Parvis de l'Institut du Monde Arabe, 1 rue des Fossés Saint Bernard, 75005
Originally designed in 2007 for the French fashion label Chanel, Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid's Mobile Art Pavillon has found a permanent home in the plaza in front of the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris' Latin Quarter. Hadid is known for her fluid and sensual designs that are based more on natural intuition rather than rational planning and regularity.
www.familytc.com
As you might know Family Travel Concierge is always strives for excellence. To make excellent experience for all of our clients we are partnering with the best of the best. One of great partners is Context Travel offering tours around the world.
Here is their take on a little known side of Paris architecture - contemporary designed by foreign-born architects.
Paris has always been on the leading edge of architectural innovation and one might even say that the construction of new buildings lives in its very DNA: the early Gothic masterpiece of Notre Dame Cathedral, the austere French Baroque façade of the Louvre, or the daring construction and unconventional materials of the Eiffel Tower. However, Paris is less well known for its contemporary architecture, and, perhaps least of all, for its buildings and monuments recently designed by foreign-born architects. While most current, large-scale architectural projects are awarded to local, big-shot names there are a few interesting recent works by those born outside l’Hexagone that are worthy of a visit. And if this whets your appetite, you might consider our walk Les Grands Projets, A Contemporary Vision of the Parisian Cityscape, during your next visit to the city (conducted by Context Travel).
Frank Gehry, Cinémathèque Française (2005)
51 rue de Bercy, 75012
The American-Canadian architect Frank Gehry is arguably the most recognizable name in contemporary architecture today. Yet his first building in Paris, which was originally conceived in 1989 for the American Center and now houses the Cinémathèque Française, is often overlooked by visitors to the city of light. The asymmetrical design and nestling of volumes is typical of Gehry's deconstructivist, post-modern style and should be familiar to anyone that has seen the architect's more famous Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain or the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Gehry referred to the Paris building as a "dancer raising her tutu" and this cheeky nod to popular entertainment in the city seems fitting for a space that now hosts regular film screenings and contains the largest archives of films and movie related documents and objects in the world.
Quai de Bercy, 75012 - Quai François Mauriac, 75013
Nearby Gehry's only major building in Paris is the newest bridge to span the Seine river, which was designed by Austrian architect Dietmar Feichtinger. The Passerelle Simone-de-Beauvoir, named after the French existentialist philosopher and writer, is a pedestrian-only bridge that appears to hover effortlessly above the water and is constructed of minimal materials (steel and wood).
Dietmar Feichtinger, Passerelle Simone-de-Beauvoir (2006)
Quai de Bercy, 75012 - Quai François Mauriac, 75013
Two intersecting curves form a lense-like shape that allows for a public seating area in the center. Due to this double layer construction, pedestrians can choose multiple avenues to cross the bridge, which connects the Parc de Bercy on the Right Bank with the plaza in front of one of Françoise Mitterand's Grands Projets, the Bibliothèque Nationale, on the Left Bank. All in all this makes for a very unique panoramic view of a contemporary Paris.
19 rue des Suisses, 75014
The Swiss design team of Herzog and de Meuron is one of the most respected architectural firms in the world and is perhaps best known for its transformation of an old power station into the Tate Modern museum in London. The team's first project in Paris is series of apartment buildings in the Montparnasse neighborhood. Located on the appropriately named rue des Suisses, it's a venture on a more modest scale. These logements were the winning submission for a competition sponsored by the city's Public Housing Agency and are actually comprised of two separate buildings: the "infill" structure that is built into the space between two already-existing apartment buildings, and a free-standing structure in the courtyard that is not visible from the street.
Herzog and de Meuron, Logements (2000)
19 rue des Suisses, 75014
The facade of the "infill" structure is slightly curved and is covered by a grid of metal shutters that form a continuous screen over the surface, only to be disrupted when one of the residents decides to open their window. With no other completed or upcoming projects in Paris, it is definitely worth a trip to the south of Paris for a glimpse of Herzog and de Meuron's innovative approach to urban living.
33 rue Boissy d'Anglas, 75008
For those looking to see contemporary architecture in central Paris, head towards the area around the Madeleine church to view Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill's design for the city's headquarters of the French luxury jewelry company Cartier. The inspiration behind Bofill's structure was Paris' famous and nearby covered passageways that are filled with chic shops and elegant cafés. The construction includes several glass and metal framed buildings with enameled facades that reflect the shimmering hues of the carefully chosen pietra serena sandstone that forms the support for the structure. The complex's several buildings are each named after a different type of gemstone (diamond, ruby, sapphire) and are home to offices, shops, and showrooms, as well as a restaurant, bar, and even a gymnasium.
Zaha Hadid, Mobile Art Pavillon (2011)
Parvis de l'Institut du Monde Arabe, 1 rue des Fossés Saint Bernard, 75005
Originally designed in 2007 for the French fashion label Chanel, Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid's Mobile Art Pavillon has found a permanent home in the plaza in front of the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris' Latin Quarter. Hadid is known for her fluid and sensual designs that are based more on natural intuition rather than rational planning and regularity.
Paris architecture is the biggest part of the experience, it evokes so many different emotions depending on the structure and the time period when it was built. My recent trip to Paris was a dream come true and Alex Medvedovski made it happen for us. It was an unbelievable and unforgettable experience that I will always cherish in my memories. Thank you Alex for all your knowledge and help throughout the planning process, you couldn't have been more helpful. It was such a pleasure working with you! Merci beaucoup!
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