The third most visited cultural site ‘Centre Pompidou’ in Paris is closing for five years to perform necessary repairs and building work.
The ‘Centre Pompidou‘ in Paris is closing for a transformational renovation after enthralling art and architecture fans for 50 years with its unique inside-out design.
The enormous renovation, which will take place between 2025 and 2030, aims to safeguard the Centre Pompidou’s future, which incorporates galleries, a library, and a restaurant within its innovative exterior of pipes and conduits. France’s Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak, recently announced the modernization and asbestos removal project, which is anticipated to cost €260 million ($282 million), with the purpose of ensuring the center’s life.
The shutdown was originally scheduled to begin in September 2023, but the reconstruction was postponed until after the Summer Olympics, which will be held in Paris in 2024.
The Pompidou Centre, named after former French President Georges Pompidou and located in the heart of Paris, attracts millions of people each year and offers stunning views of the city.
The president of the landmark, Laurent Le Bon, told CNN that the rehabilitation project intends to revitalize the Centre Pompidou’s “original utopia” while tackling cultural, societal, and environmental concerns that are expected in the coming years.
Among the renovation’s standout features is the creation of a new 1,500-square-meter terrace with panoramic views of the city’s western outskirts. Surprisingly, the upgrades will result in a 60% reduction in the center’s energy consumption.
During the closure, visitors will still be able to see some of the attractions of the Centre Pompidou. Meanwhile, the public library’s 400,000 books will be transported to a temporary building dubbed Le Lumière in Paris’s Bercy district, while artworks from the National Modern Art Museum will be displayed in various sites throughout Paris, France, and internationally.
Also read: 5 haunted places in Paris including Eiffel Tower
The Centre Pompidou was built on a former parking lot by renowned architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers. According to statistics, the facility will host 5.4 million French and foreign tourists in 2022.
