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Grand Palais Paris

Grand Palace
GD-FR-Paris-Grand Palais.jpg
View of the assembly formed by the Grand and Petit Palais from the Eiffel Tower
Geographic Information
Contact 48 51 '58 "North
2 18 '45 "East / 48.8661611, 2.3125528
Country Flag: France France
Locality Paris
General Information
Opening Date Universal Exhibition of 1900
Area 77,000 m including 13,500 m for the nave
Visitor Information
Visitors / year 1.5 million per year
Address Avenue Winston Churchill
75008 Paris
Website www.grandpalais.fr

Geolocation on the map: Paris

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Grand Palais (Paris)
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The Grand Palace is a monument in Paris located along the famous Champs-Elysees , opposite the Petit Palais in the 8th arrondissement. Its 77,000 sqm regularly hosts prestigious exhibitions and fairs.

The public establishment of the Grand Palais des Champs-Elysees (EPGPCE), established January 25, 2007, is chaired by Jean-Paul Cluzel History

Grand Palais, restored in 2004

The Grand Palace of Fine Arts was built in Paris from 1897 to the World Expo scheduled April 15 to 12 November 1900 , instead of large but uncomfortable Palace of Industry in 1855. "Monument dedicated by the Republic to the glory of French art," as stated in one of its gables , its original purpose is to welcome the major artistic events of the official capital.

By decree of 12 June 1975 , the nave was closed as historical monuments. A new decree of 6 November 2000 , protects the Grand Palais in its entirety.

The competition of ideas

The establishment of a program is written and the organization of a contest of ideas between architects is decided by decree of 22 April 1896. Contrary to what had been planned for the palace of the Trocadero or the Opera Garnier , it is not envisaged that the competition is international. The competition is addressed here only to architects of French nationality.

The winning architects

After a series of hotly contested races, and adventures of a fierce debate among representatives of the authorities, media and the general public, architects Deglane Henry , Albert Louvet , Albert-Flix-Thophile Thomas and Charles Girault can be the tie and are selected to produce a summary of their proposals and to work together.

The distribution of tasks

The manufacturer is the company Dayd & Plundered.

Analysis of the final project

Axis Republican

Before Expo 1900 , the beginning of a long vista is already marked by the Dome , the Church of the soldiers , the Hotel and the Esplanade des Invalides. But on the other side of the Seine , looking so miserable butts on one of the side walls of the Palace of Arts and Industry. Along the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, this imposing building is, moreover, perceived bias.

During the preparation period of the contest rules and, in particular, the design of templates defining the precise location of each building to succeed the old palace, the intention is to include this project in a broader urban achievement.

There are plans to extend the axis of the Invalides to the Elysee Palace and offer, thereby, a framework for the forthcoming major exhibition.

The axis was born Republican, traced which have to obey the organization and implementation of foreign flags and theme installed on the Esplanade des Invalides as the set formed by the Grand Palais, the Petit Palais in front of him Opposite, on the other side of the avenue new and established, and the Pont Alexandre III launched on this occasion, above the River.

This axis, which will continue beyond the festivities of 1900, is still the last major achievement in the urban Parisian.

Architecture

The spacecraft main for a distance of nearly 240 meters, consists of an imposing space topped by a large canopy. The barrel vault slightly lowered the aisles and north and south of the transept (paddock), the dome on pendants and dome weighs about 8,500 tons of steel, iron and glass. The metal weight, equal to about 6,000 tonnes, equivalent to that of the Eiffel Tower. On top of all this culminates at an altitude of 45 meters.

Canopy at the location of the dome and pendants

Deglane colonnade, inspired by that of Claude Perrault in the Louvre , but without having the grace, hides carefully, as the Orsay railway station built by Victor Laloux for the same exhibition, the stunning innovation of the steel structure.

This type of building is the culmination of eclectic , unique to the " Beaux Arts ". The Grand Palace is in itself a summary of the likes of " Belle Epoque "but at the same time mark the end of a certain conception of architecture where the main contractor, both artist and technician, occupies a dominant role.

The book is one of the last milestones of an era before the era of the magic of electricity. It demonstrates that when large transparent structures, inherited from Crystal Palace in London , designed by Joseph Paxton in 1851 , where the supply of natural light is still essential to any large gathering human.

The original building and its internal workings are organized along an east-west. Communication between the nave and other parts of the palace (VIP lounge, central wing and palaces Antin) is through a large iron staircase inspired classical tinged with art nouveau. In 1937 , the Palais de la Dcouverte , temporary exhibition for the International Exhibition, occupies the space of the palace Antin (western part of the Grand Palace). This exhibition attracts 2 million visitors and thus conquered the right to stay in the Grand Palais in 1940. A door mature then the passage between the grand staircase of the palace and Antin, breaking with the pattern of traffic east / west original. The public establishment of the Grand Palais has included in its Action Plan 2008/2010 to reopen the passage. The visitors can go directly to the palace of the nave d'Antin. Similarly, the VIP lounge will be renovated again become the heart of the Grand Palais.

Main facade designed by Henry Deglane after restoration
Sculptures
"The Harmony of Discord triumphant", Quadriga, facing the Seine
  • The chariot in embossed copper from George Rcipon crown the pediment and two entrances, north-east and south-east on the new avenue. These works allegorical , winning the pedestrian at an altitude of forty meters, represent:
  • Groups are due to bronze sculptor Victor Peter and Alexander Falguire.
Mosaics
  • Inside, the floors of the hall are elliptical mosaic of porcelain tiles. There is a large floral design in central symmetry, consisting of tiles colored little support (beige, brown and green), but standing out well against a white background. These mosaics were made by the Company according to Simons and Co. cartons Louis Hista The ceremony

    The inauguration of the Grand Palace was held with all the pomp peculiar to the Third Republic. A plate of one of the corner still bears pediments, carved in stone, the testimony of the event.
    The ceremony was held on 1 May 1900 , in the presence of Emile Loubet , President of the Republic, Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau , then Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior and Religious Affairs of George Leygues , Minister of Public Education and Fine Arts of Millerand , Minister of Trade, Industry, Posts and Telecommunications and, finally, to Alfred Picard , Commissioner General of Expo.

    President Emile Loubet

    A century fairs and exhibitions

    In 1901, the Grand Palais is home, along with art shows, many other events. This is especially for the horse show, hosted until 1901 at the Palace of Industry, the Grand Palais has a nave and a sandy track. From April 1901 to 1957, the horse show, with competition teams, sprints and jumping, is a popular time of Parisian life. From 1901, other rooms come and go. They are mainly dedicated to innovation and modernity: Motor Show 1901 to 1961), Aviation Fair from 1909 to 1951, Ideal Home Exhibition, etc..

    The art fairs

    The rooms devoted to the arts know their golden age during the first thirty years of the palace. With the advent of the Popular Front in 1936 , these presentations, regarded by some as an expression of art for the elite bourgeois gradually lose their prestige and their surfaces are reduced to a considerable extent with the final installation Palace of the discovery the following year.

    After the war, they prefer the technical trade fairs and business more profitable. The art fairs endure a little longer before seeing their exhibition space reduced to a trickle and be relegated to places less noble and less visible in the Grand Palais.

    From 1947 , the building loses its function as the Palais des Beaux-Arts, for which it was built.

    Technical Exhibitions

    Such events are scarce in the Great Hall from the 1960s. Become too small, we prefer the new Palace of CNIT and the exhibition grounds at Porte de Versailles.

    In making its independence this exhibition takes the name "Air Show" and then that of "Aeronautics Industry Show" before leaving for the airport of Le Bourget.

    Trade shows

    carnival, January 2006

    These exhibitions are also leaving the Grand Palace by lack of available space.

    The one-time events

    The Palace of Discovery

    The Palace of the discovery of Expo 1937 is installed in the west wing of the Grand Palais. It was originally designed as a temporary exhibition, but much of his success, he finally rest in the western part of the Grand Palais. It is now a veritable institution whose popularity has never waned.

    The National Galleries

    This section is empty, insufficiently detailed or incomplete. Your help is welcome!

    In 1964 , Reynold Arnould transforms a portion of the north wing of the Grand Palais, at the request of Andre Malraux, then Minister of Cultural Affairs in the National Galleries for receiving major temporary exhibitions. Are well presented in 1966 , a retrospective of the painter Pablo Picasso and a major presentation of African art.

    Many exhibitions of classical painters, impressionists ( Renoir ), and modern ( Zao Wou-Ki , Prassinos , Music , Bazaine , Manessier ) are organized in the future.

    The surprising reuses

    During the twentieth century , the Grand Palace is now witnessing the drama of history being a victim of reuse often unwelcome.

    • At the beginning of the Great War , the Grand Palace is used as barracks for the colonial troops preparing to go to war. He quickly became a makeshift hospital for wounded Marine could not find space in crowded hospitals in the capital.
    • During the Second World War , the great ship was requisitioned by the Germans to house military vehicles. In August 1944 , the ship was bombed and a fire breaks out, without major consequences, in a part of the building, but firefighters were hampered in their work by the rescue of animals from a circus that has taken up residence under the large canopy. They must also protect the works sent for exhibition by artists mobilized or prisoners.

    Until the creation of the public institution of the Grand Palais, several institutions and services are installed in the heart of the Grand Palais:

    The creation of the public institution of the Grand Palais in 2007, has streamlined spaces. Now, the Grand Palais hosts the administration of the public institution of the Grand Palais, Galeries nationales du Grand Palais, the Palais de la Decouverte , the police's Eighth District , and until July 2009, rooms repeat a href = "% C3% Com A9di-Fran% C3% A7ais" title = "Comedy-French"> French Comedie.

    On July 13, 2008, 43 heads of state met in the nave to the summit of the Union for the Mediterranean.

    Closure and rebirth

    Precautionary measures

    Work in the nets of the nave (2002)

    The alert was given in June 1993 after posting an item for riveting from a height of nearly thirty-five meters at an exhibition dedicated to design.

    The Minister of Culture at that time, Jacques Toubon , took the decision to close "temporarily" place in November of that year because of the danger of falling new rivets on the public.

    The netting hanging under the canopy (see photograph below cons) and the convening of experts to address this situation are not enough to keep open to the public. And only after the necessary safety work, the National Gallery and the Palais de la Dcouverte are available again. The use of the ship stops for twelve long years.

    The pathologies

    Disturbances occur throughout the twentieth century and since the very beginning of construction in the area south of the nave. During construction, these contingencies are more serious there is no question of postponing the date of delivery of the Grand Palais.

    The behavior of masonry and structural steel comes from several factors:

    • The foundations of the building, partly consisting of piles driven into oak supporting massive stone or concrete of lime , are subject to changes and a gradual lowering of the groundwater. Due to work campaigns of successive rearrangements of the road and wharf along the Seine , this phenomenon causes fading and rotting heads of posts in contact with oxygen in the air. The collapse forced the designers to increase the number first and then piles slightly rectify the masonry and the profile of the frame in which affect the ground motion. Nearly three thousand four hundred poles are finally installed, but all are far from achieving the "good soil". This is geologically stable south, at a depth of five meters.
    • The nature of alluvial land and its natural tendency to slip into the bed of the Seine.
    • The clashes made directly on the metal structure at the option of imposing achievements decorations or exhibitions, such as the Paris Air Show, where balloons and aircraft are sometimes presented in suspension. A place and premature aging of several metallic elements.
    • The use of the Grand Palace for presentations horse leads to an alteration of several pillars of the foot due to the acidity of the soil absorbs the urine of horses.
    • The major use of slats riveted steel in the design of the steel structure instead of elements in iron like the Eiffel Tower. This material is at the time of construction, less flexible and expands less than that produced today (recall that this assembly of more than two-hundred meters does not seal expansion ).
    • The deformation of ribs and other elements due to differential settlement and then the weight of the cupola of the dome.
    • The first cracks appear, water leaks through the canopy causing a slow corrosion of the metal.

    In studies prior to the recent work of underpinning work, the calculations estimate the collapse of massive foundations of the south wing at about 14 cm and a height variation in the metal part of the book, 7 cm. These values, seemingly insignificant, have been sufficient to cause considerable structural damage.

    Early work comfortable

    Or injections of infill materials of various kinds began early and continued at different periods of the life of the monument to fill the voids between the bottom level of the building and the soil continues to subside. In 1940 , the occupying German troops install vehicles and miscellaneous equipment in the nave. Realizing the fragility of the place, they decide to inject several tons of grout concrete in the basement, a time stabilizing the land and structures, but the overall weighting in its southern part. Thus, the disorders will be accelerating until that famous year 1993.

    The restoration campaign

    The project management

    The project management of the restoration work is carried out between 2001 and 2007 by the Department of Architecture and Heritage ( DAPA ) of the Ministry of Culture and Communication. The term project management is assigned to the Public Establishment of control of cultural works (EmOC). By decree of 17 April 2007 (for entry into force on 1 May 2007), the monument "Grand Palace" was assigned as an endowment to the public institution of the Grand Palais. The latter replaced the EMOC to ensure the work of the Grand Palais in order to complete the restoration of this historic monument.

    Programming site

    The work was conducted in two phases:

    • First phase (November 2001 - August 2004 ): underpinning work of some of the foundation along with a removal, rehabilitation and rest of 2001 to 2004 , of two four-in wrought copper and iron frame of their of Rcipon.
    • Second phase ( 2002 until end 2007 ): repairing walls and other masonry cracked, the canopy and blankets with outdated or distorted, since 2005 , a renovation of the facades, a restoration of the great frieze outdoor mosaics and a second and last year consolidation of the foundations.

    The budget for this project has reached 101.36 million euros (72.3 per phase). Funding was provided by the State through the Ministry of Culture.

    Some figures

    • Foundations:

    8,900 square feet of slurry walls run with nearly 6600 cubic meters of concrete , 2,000 columns of jet grouting in place with about 10,000 tons of cement.

    • The nave:

    Length of 200 meters, width of 50 meters (100 feet between the main entrance and the back wall of the paddock), height of 35 meters under the roof, 45 meters in height under the dome, 60 meters to the bell. The surface soil is an area of 13,500 square meters.

    • The metal frame:

    Weight above the nave: 6,000 tons of steel (600 tons replaced during the first phase of work) for a total of 8,500 by counting the Palais d'Antin. Number of rivets changed: about 15,000. Painted surface: 110,000 square meters. Weight of the new painting: 60 tons for 3 layers made, virtually the equivalent of 2,000 cans of 30 kg.

    • Different windows:

    Surface replaced: 13,500 square meters for the nave (16,000 square meters with side windows). Glass load new for the nave, the paddock and the windows close to two four: 280 tons of laminated glass (not including 65 tons of double glazing for the side galleries in the periphery).

    • Blankets and metalworking books:

    Linear replaced: 750 meters from the gutters of lead and zinc in 110 meters, 1,200 meters of zinc ornaments stamped. Surface terrasson zinc: 5,200 sq. meters.

    (Source: EmOC).

    Brief History of Green Reseda "

    Even before the beginning of the first rehabilitation of the nave of the Grand Palais, has quickly raised the issue of choice of color to give the steel structure, even if restitution from the initial state was possible. The time has done its work, many layers of paint have covered all the elements. The visible color in 2001 was close to gray.

    The option of a refund may be considered only after careful study and analysis:

    • The observation, after removal of riveted plates bearing the names of companies involved in construction. Never removed, they reveal a shade close to the light green.
    • The physico-chemical analysis of samples. Conducted by the Research Laboratory of Historical Monuments (or LRMH) of Champs-sur-Marne , and using, among other methods, the scanning electron microscopy , the tests allow to define the number of campaigns repainting, the various components and pigments used in the various layers, especially the oldest and, finally, the evolution of the latter in the presence of prolonged exposure to ultraviolet.
    • The search for the original product based on initial results. Luck is the appointment, because the manufacturer provided the painting in 1900 has always storefront. This company Ripolin that still has records on the relevant time. The color chart corresponds quickly found and we discover the color name used, a green " Reseda "of which there are three shades: light, medium and dark. The preceding analysis are possible without hesitation to the use of "mignonette green light".

    So today, we can observe the structural steel painted with a color identical to the one used at the completion of its construction in the late nineteenth century.

    This painting, if one believes a recent press release from the Ministry of Culture, would likely qualify as "Green Grand Palais", like the now famous "Eiffel Tower Brown."

    The new glazed canopy

    The restoration of the structure will also lead to that of the canopy and its dithering become unsightly. During the preliminary study, the architect Alain-Charles Perrot suggests that either restored the frame and the initial width of the tiles glass , denatured in a campaign of restoration. Moreover, the constitution of glass no longer meets safety requirements today. Wired glass is then replaced by a laminated glass contemporary design that has two key qualities:

    • It allows maintenance personnel and maintenance of movement on the walkways outside safely. Wired glass, although strengthened by a fence does not prevent a man to cross the bubble and make a fatal fall. The new glass avoids this disadvantage without significantly increasing weight. It is, moreover, a maintenance easier.
    • Relieved of the internal wire and finish defects of the old material, laminated glass, although thicker (9 mm) is much more transparent. The overall look of the windows of the nave and the atmosphere inside the building are processed. If this transparency is not quite the original condition, we can not deny the improvement in the use of exhibition spaces. Glare visible from outside are also modified. Treatments applied to the glass surface provide a final touch hi-tech and transform the perception that one can have while walking in the immediate vicinity of the Grand Palais.

    The sections bearing the weight of new windows are also thinner section. The aluminum , replacing the steel, thus reduces the weight of this structure secondary.

    Renaissance and future of the Grand Palais

    The Grand Palais from the Pont Alexandre III

    Under construction since 2002 , the vast nave is exceptionally open to the public on the occasion of European Heritage Days 2005. For fifteen days, nearly 250 000 visitors come to explore the nave and the two globes of Coronelli. "More than a reopening, it is a rebirth," said Minister of Culture of the era, Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres , during his inauguration speech. The future of the Grand Palace is clearly defined: to get to this mecca of French heritage all its cultural vocation in the broadest sense: artistic dimension, but also economic, technical, scientific, festive reception of all kinds fairs, exhibitions and events, with always an aspect related to the discovery of Modernity and the Other.

    A new ambition from 2007

    Former Minister of Culture and Communication, Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres , welcomed the establishment of a structure called "public establishment of the Grand Palais des Champs-lyses" Honey Grand Palais

    On 7 May 2009, a hive was installed on the roof of the Grand Palace to promote biodiversity and awareness of the lives of bees in the city. A honey Grand Palais will be harvested in the summer of 2009. A mascot, "Damn the bee" was created in the "Quadriga", the monthly electronic newsletter of the Grand Palais, to allow more light shifted on the monument.

    References

    Sources bibliographic and iconographic

    Bibliography

    • Gilles Plum, The Grand Palace, the adventure of the Palace of Fine Arts, ed. Reunion des Musees Nationaux, distribution Seuil, Paris, 1993
    • Grand Palais: the vertices of the restoration, in "Atrium Building, No. 11, Paris, June / July 2004 ( ISSN 1636-3434 )
    • Jean Monneret , Grand Palais, opposite Jean Monneret, ed. RMN, Paris, 2006 ( ISBN 2711851915 )
    • Marrey Bernard Le Grand Palais. Its construction, its history, ed. Picard, Paris, 2006 ( ISBN 2708407767 )
    • The Grand Palace, Connaissance des Arts, Special Issue, 2007
    • Gilles Plum, photographs by Jean-Pierre Delagarde Le Grand Palais, architecture and scenery, Editions du Patrimoine, Paris, 2008 ( ISBN 2858229015 )
    • Isabelle Stibbe, Grand Palais. Nef to explore time, in Air France Magazine, January 2009
    • Yves Saint-Geours, with the collaboration of Isabelle Stibbe, The Grand Palace. Monument Capital, Discovery Gallimard, Paris, 2009 ( ISBN 9782070361809 )

    Iconography

    View of the dome of the Grand Palais.

    The Grand Palais.

    Architecture of the roof.

    Internal view with balconies.

    The esplanade of the Grand Palais.

    Balcony of the Grand Palais.

    the Dome of the renovated Grand Palais.

    Side view of the Grand Palace ..

    Filmography

    • Video Conference 52 'on restoring the Grand Palais, given by Alain-Charles Perrot, 21 October 2004 (for free consultation and download at the "University of All Knowledge": here ).

    See also

    Related articles

    External Links

    (M) This site is served by metro Champs-Elysees - Clemenceau and Franklin D. Roosevelt.


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