GrandPalais.fr : Balconies

Balconies

The Nave

Great Staircase: A superb illustration of Art nouveau, the monumental Great Staircase is an instant eye-catcher. Serving as a reception area and the prestigious entrance to the future VIP lounge, it alone illustrates the majesty of the Grand Palais.
Balconies: The fine, understated contour of the balconies that run all the way round the Nave conceals little-known reception and exhibition areas. Only when they have been fully restored will it be possible to access this exceptional viewpoint that takes in the whole of the Nave.
Wolrd time clock: The world time clock has presided over a century of events in the Grand Palais, and, as a work of impressive scale and history, must be restored to its former role in the Nave.
Tympanum: Imagining the interaction and resonance between contemporary creation and heritage. This will be the challenge for the contemporary artist restoring and decorating the tympanum in the Grand Palais.
Corner glass roofs: On either side of the great staircase, the skylight windows in the corners of the building provide warm and intimate reception areas, a welcome counterpoint to the immensity of the Nave. Once restored, these shafts of light will create an even more graphic impact.
Regulation of the temperature in the Nave: Designing a temperature regulation system to operate under the biggest glass roof in Europe, covering a total area of 13,500 m2 (145,000 sq. ft.) for a volume of 450,000 m³ (15,890,000 ft³) is a massive challenge!
Mosaics and glass floors: More than just a restoration, the task of reconstituting the mosaics with their soft colours, and the glass tiles that are so typical of the early 20th century is an invitation to rediscover the sumptuous life and times of the Belle Époque.

Building exterior

Main entrance: It is through the majestic main entrance on Avenue Winston-Churchill that more than one and a half visitors each year enter the Grand Palais.
The pots à feu on the roof and the great sculptures on the pediment: These ornaments and large groups of sculptures make a major contribution to the building's overall impression of splendour: Alfred Picard, commissioner of the 1900 Universal Exhibition, attached particular importance to these curiosities that have since been damaged by the passage of time or simply disappeared.
Illuminations: The design of new illuminations for both inside and outside the Nave is a major and ambitious project for the 21st century and an exciting challenge on the scale of the building itself.

New areas

The VIP Lounge: Centrepiece of the restoration project for the Grand Palais, the renovation of the VIP Lounge will enable businesses, patrons and the general public to discover this sumptuous area of 1,200 m2 (12,900 sq. ft.) located in the heart of the building.
The South-East Gallery: A new area with 700 m2 (7,500 sq. ft.) of floor space, the gallery will be able to host events such as exhibitions and fashion shows. Events here will be bathed in outstanding natural vertical light streaming down through the glass overhead.
The Fine Arts Staircase: A jewel in the Grand Palais' crown, the Fine Arts Staircase offers a warm and inviting reception area and an exclusive facility in which to welcome guests. Its discrete atmosphere is enhanced by a staircase that lends a magical sense of elevation as it leads upward to the balconies in the Nave.

The balconies © Collection Grand Palais / François Tomasi

43,000 sq. ft. unused

The balconies that run right round the Nave and add up to a total area of around 32,300 m² (even 43,000 sq. ft. if the Clock Balcony and areas accessed via the Great Staircase are included) are currently unused. Once used for exhibitions, the balconies are now out of bounds for safety reasons.

New exhibition and tour areas

The pinewood parquet flooring, decorative ceilings and balustrades are in need of restoration. This is vital for the future of the Grand Palais insofar as this rehabilitation would substantially modify the way that the Nave could be used in event and tour organisation.

The balconies provide superb potential floor space for the organisation of exciting exhibitions and events: recording of radio and television broadcasts, receptions, temporary catering areas, etc. Original scenography in such a magnificent setting cannot fail to enthral.

The restoration of the balconies will also offer the public permanent circuits for touring the Nave, this type of circular tour being currently unfeasible: the ability to walk all the way round the Nave should become an imperative for visitors to the Grand Palais.

Technical information

Work: consolidation of the balcony structures to accommodate the public, restoration of the pinewood flooring, restoration of the decorative ceilings and balustrades.
Area: 3000 m² of landings
Schedule: work due to start at the end of 2008

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Contact

mecenat@rmngp.fr