L Institut du Monde Arabe
From Archiplanet
 | L'Institut du Monde Arabe |
| Designer | Jean Nouvel |
| Location | Paris, France |
| Date | 1981 to 1988 |
| Building Type | cultural center, mixed use |
| Construction System | steel, glass |
| Climate | temperate |
| Context | urban, plaza, near river |
| Architectural Style | Modern |
| Street Address | 1, rue des Foss�s Saint-Bernard |
| Notes | Museum, library, auditorium, restaurant, offices, etc., behind metal sunscreen with active sun control diaphragms. Aga Kahn award. |
| At Great Buildings | http://www.GreatBuildings.com/buildings/L_Institut_du_Monde_Arabe.html |
Contents |
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| Building Details | |
| Client | Institut du Monde Arabe, Scarif |
| Cost | 47,500,000 USD (52,000,000 Euro) |
| Area | 25,263 square meters (252,630 square feet) |
| Stories | 7 |
| Program | Cultural center including museum, temporary exhibition spaces, library, documentation center auditorium, restaurant, children's workshops |
Commentary
"Set on a prominent site in the central part of Paris a short distance from the Church of Notre Dame, the Arab Institute is one of the Grands Projets encouraged by the French President during the 1980s. It is an urban scheme of great character. It was won in competition and houses a Franco-Arabian 'World' Institute representing 19 countries. Its purpose is to foster knowledge of Arab world culture by the exchange of information on the arts, sciences and modern technologies. It incorporates some well lit exhibition areas, a museum, library, a 300-seat hall and a restaurant, as well as offices and car parking. Internally a superb feature is the glass and steel stairs and lift enclosure, which can be seen from most parts of the building."
— Dennis Sharp. Twentieth Century Architecture: a Visual History. p394.
[edit] Project Credits
Architectural team
- Jean Nouvel, Gilbert Lezenes, Pierre Soria,
- Architecture Studio
- Project Manager: JJ Raynaud, Antoinette Robain, Adeline Rispail (museography)
- Architects:Jl Besnard, Pascal Debard, Jm Reynier
- Economiste: Cabinet Sery Bertrand
Consultant Team
- Scénography: Jacques Le Marquet
- Interior Design: François Seigneur
- Architectural Adviser: Sa Zaidan
- Museum Lighting: Licht Design
- Museum Structure: Arcora
- Landscape: A.Richert
- Water design: * Présence de l'eau: Anne Frémy
- Children's space: G.Glaser
- Scenography auditorium: Michel Seban
- North facade seriography: P.M. Jacot
Details
Address: Rue de Fosses Saint-Bernard.
Telephone: 40.51.38.38.
On the left back of the Seine, with a view of Notre Dame de Paris, just down the river, framed in the slot between the curved and rectangular masses.
"The huge south-facing garden courtyard wall has been described as a 60m 'Venetian blind', although its appearance is more patently Islamic in decorative terms. It is, however, an ocular device of striking originality, made up of numerous and variously dimensioned metallic diaphragms set in pierced metal borders. These diaphragms operate like a camera lens to control the sun's penetration into the interior of the building. The changes to the irises are dramatically revealed internally while externally a subtle density pattern can be observed. Thus the whole effect is like a giant Islamic pierced screen, giving significance and an audacious brilliance to this remarkable building."
— Dennis Sharp. Twentieth Century Architecture: a Visual History. p394.
[edit] Related Content from Wikipedia
Arab World Institute
The Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA) or Arab World Institute (AWI), in English, was established during 1980 in Paris, when 18 Arab countries concluded an agreement with France to establish the Institute to disseminate information about the Arab world and set in motion detailed research to cover Arabic and the Arab world’s cultural and spiritual values. The Institute also aims at promoting cooperation and cultural exchanges between France and the Arab world, particularly in the areas of science and technology, thus contributing to development of relations between the Arab world and Europe. Libya joined the agreement in 1984.
Architectural Features of the AWI Building
AWI is located in the building also known as Institut du Monde Arabe, on Rue des Fossés Saint Bernard in Paris, France, constructed from 1981 to 1987 with a floor space of . Jean Nouvel won the 1981 competition with a project that proposed risk-taking solutions that, over the course of the years, have proven themselves.
The building acts as a buffer zone between the Jussieu Campus, in large rationalist blocks, and the River Seine. The river facade follows the curve of the waterway and helps reduce the hardness of a rectangular block, adapting itself to the view from the Sully Bridge. At the same time the building also appears to fold itself back in the direction of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district.
In contrast, the opposite facade is uncompromisingly rectangular. Facing it is a large square public space that opens out toward the Île de la Cité and Notre Dame. Above the glass-clad storefront, a metallic screen unfolds with moving geometric motifs. The motifs are actually 240 motor-controlled apertures, which open and close every hour. They act as brise soleil to control the light entering the building. The mechanism creates interior spaces with filtered light — an effect often used in Islamic architecture with its climate-oriented strategies. This building catapulted Nouvel to fame and is one of the cultural reference points of Paris. It is also noted for receiving the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
The building houses a museum, library, auditorium, restaurant, and offices.
Presidents of the AWI
- Edgard Pisani (1988-1995)
- Camille Cabana (1995-2002)
- Denis Bauchard (2002-2004)
- Rachid Ben Khélil (1987-2008)
- Yves Guéna (2004-2007)
- Dominique Baudis (2007- )
See also
External links
- Arab World Institute (in English)
- Institut du Monde Arabe (in French)
ar:معهد العالم العربي ca:Institut del Món Àrab de:Institut du monde arabe es:Instituto del Mundo Árabe fr:Institut du monde arabe gl:Instituto do Mundo Árabe it:Istituto del Mondo Arabo nl:Instituut van de Arabische wereld ja:アラブ世界研究所 no:Institut du monde arabe ru:Институт арабского мира sk:Institut du Monde Arabe sv:Institut du monde arabe vi:Viện Thế giới Ả Rập
[edit] Maps
[edit] References
Dossier con�u par Olivier Boissi�re. Institut Du Monde Arabe. Paris: EDIFRA, 19xx. exterior photo of transparent envelope, p18. exterior photo from plaza, p11. interior photo of wall with light features, p15.
Kevin Matthews, University of Oregon. Slide from photographer's collection, August 1992. PCD.3189.1011.1916.019. PCD.3189.1011.1916.015. PCD.3189.1011.1916.013
Josep Montaner. New Museums. London: Architecture and Technology Press, 1990. section, p34.
Dennis Sharp. Twentieth Century Architecture: a Visual History. New York: Facts on File, 1990. ISBN 0-8160-2438-3. NA680.S517. exterior, interior photos, p394. — Available at Amazon.com
Alene Stickles, University of Oregon. Slide from photographer's collection, June 1993. PCD.2365.1012.0634.051. View from Siene River.
