Ministry of Culture

The Ministry of Culture approves the different stages of the project. It has provided financing of €128 M, including €97 M from the “Patrimoines” (“Heritage”) programme, over nine years. This staggered approach limits funding requirements to nearly €11 M per year on average, less than 3% of the historic monuments allocation from the Ministry of Culture (excluding stimulus package).

Contracting authority: Réunion des musées nationaux – Grand Palais

The Rmn-Grand Palais has been officially allocated the whole of the Grand Palais, which belongs to the French state. It occupies the building jointly with the Palais de la Découverte. As the manager and sponsor of the restoration and upgrade project, it sets out the operational objectives as well as needs to be met, constraints and quality requirements. Working with the Ministry of Culture, it therefore approves studies, secures financing and assigns contractors.

Architect: François Chatillon

François Chatillon is the Chief architect for the Ministry of Culture’s historical monuments, responsible for the restoration and enhancement of the Grand Palais. He is involved in numerous projects in France and abroad (for Aga Khan, the French embassy in Lisbon, and the Casa Camara in Mérida, Mexico, among others). Since 2005, his professional time has been devoted to restoring major architectural heritage structures (the Grand Palais in Paris, the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Voltaire’s château in Gerney-Voltaire). Alongside these responsibilities, he has been entrusted with several key buildings emblematic of 20th century French heritage, including the Halles du Boulingrin by Emile Maigrot and Eugène Freyssinet (Reims), the Cité de Refuge by Le Corbusier (Paris 13th), the Piscine des Amiraux by Henri Sauvage (Paris 18th), to name just a few.

Partner: Palais de la Découverte

Located in the west wing of the Grand Palais, the Palais de la Découverte was created by Jean Perrin – a Nobel Prize winner for physics – for the 1937 International Exposition. The Palais de la Découverte is a Universcience site that aims to bring science to life and make them accessible to all, through demonstrations and experiments performed live in front of visitors. Simultaneously a science centre, creative centre, exhibition venue, and a place to interact with well-known scientists, the Palais de la Découverte seeks to present “science in the making”.

Learn more about the scientific and cultural project at the Palais de la Découverte

Exclusive patron: CHANEL

Publication Date: September 2020