An unprecedented restoration to revive the monument’s original 1900 splendor and offer a renewed visitor experience.
In March 2021, the Grand Palais closed its doors to begin on a major phase of restoration work.
This vast worksite, made essential by the vagaries of history and time, now allows the monument to regain its splendor. After a century of hectic life, the Grand Palais is writing a new page in its history, ready to embrace the future.
To offer insight into the behind-the-scenes of this extraordinary project, videos, texts, photos, and audio recordings are available online.
Restoration key milestones
A series of thematic content to follow the progress of the renovation step by step and listen to the voices of those who experience it on a daily basis.
To bear witness to this unique adventure, several artists were invited to follow and document the project: photographer Marguerite Bornhauser, writer Maylis de Kerangal and photographer Patrick Tourneboeuf.
Aujourd’hui, le Grand Palais s'ouvre en grand après quatre années d’une restauration d’exception. Ce chef-d’œuvre architectural, alliant tradition et modernité, retrouve toute sa splendeur. Mais avant d’en arriver là, un chantier hors norme a mobilisé des milliers de compagnons et de savoir-faire. Plongez dans les coulisses de cette métamorphose à travers notre dossier thématique.
The extraordinary adventure of the restoration site, brought to life through our videos
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At the origin of the project
Since 2021, the Grand Palais has been transformed to offer you a unique and renewed experience. Pass-through circulations and natural light once again illuminate its iconic spaces and original settings, including Pierre Vivien's historic fittings.
These renovations redefine the Grand Palais as a living space accessible to all. Upgraded to meet technical standards, the monument now features new technical installations and improved accessibility, especially for people with reduced mobility.
A common entrance for the Grand Palais and the Palais de la découverte provides a seamless experience, encouraging dialogue between art, science and the cultural and creative industries. The project places great emphasis on artistic and cultural education through mediation workshops, as well as the Palais des enfants, a new space led by the GrandPalaisRmn and the Palais de la découverte (Universcience).
Hosting a rich and hybrid program that blends all artistic disciplines with a permanent offering of digital and immersive exhibitions, the New Grand Palais welcomes you in its restored spaces for a renewed experience.
The New Grand Palais stakeholders
GrandPalaisRmn
The GrandPalaisRmn is assignee of the entire Grand Palais, which belongs to the State. It shares occupation of the building with the Palais de la découverte. As project owner, the institution defines the needs and objectives of the operation, as well as the constraints and quality requirements. In liaison with the Ministry of Culture, it validates studies, ensures financing and approves contractors.
François Chatillon (Chatillon Architectes)
François Chatillon is Chief Architect of Monuments Historiques for the French Ministry of Culture, responsible for the restoration and enhancement of the Grand Palais. He works on many projects in France and abroad. Since 2005, his professional activity has been dedicated to the restoration of major works of architectural heritage.
The Palais de la découverte / Universcience
Located in the west wing of the Grand Palais, the Palais de la découverte was created by Jean Perrin in 1937. The Palais de la découverte is a Universcience venue whose aim is to bring science alive and accessible to all through demonstrations and experiments performed in front of the public. At once a science center, a venue for creating and hosting exhibitions, and a meeting point for renowned scientists, the Palais de la découverte presents "science in the making".
L'Atelier Senzu
After a call for projects, the selection committee chaired by Chris Dercon, and in the presence of Bruno Maquart, President of Universcience, has chosen the team led by architects David Dottelonde and Wandrille Marchais (L'Atelier Senzu) for the fit-out of the Grand Palais - Palais de la découverte. L'Atelier Senzu in tandem with French designer Samy Rio (Grand Prix Design Parade 10 at Villa Noailles, in residence at Atelier LUMA in Arles), will thus design the furniture and architecture of spaces dedicated to welcoming the public, including the ticket office and bookshop-boutiques, as well as auditoriums and artistic mediation workshops. New York-based branding agency 2X4 (Prada Foundation in Milan, Lincoln Center in NY) completes the team, and will bring the new signage and identity to life. The Grand Palais - Palais de la découverte development project led by L'Atelier Senzu complements the restoration project directed by Architecte en Chef des Monuments Historiques François Chatillon.
Patrons
The restoration of the Grand Palais is financed by the French State through a grant from the Ministry of Culture, an endowment from the Grand Plan d'Investissement, and a large-scale bank loan taken out by GrandPalaisRmn.
Universcience contributes through partnerships for the museography of the Palais de la Découverte.
The Fondation Jean-Pierre Aubin is enabling the creation of a brand new exhibition space dedicated to children, the Fondations Velux are helping to restore over 5,000 m² of glass elements, the Clarence Dillon is contributing to the restoration of the statuary on Avenue Franklin Roosevelt, French Heritage Society is supporting the restoration of the gilding and bronzes, the Fondation Louis Roederer has chosen to support Marguerite Bornhauser's carte blanche and the company JC Decaux the installation of Nayel Zeaiter's work on the site's palisade.
Finally, the Société de livraison des ouvrages olympiques (SOLIDEO) is participating in the financing of the project to ensure that the needs of the Olympic and Paralympic Games are properly taken into account.
