Studios Architecture Paris and Selldorf Architects, winners of an international design competition, have recently been announced as the design team tasked with delivering the “Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance” project, the most ambitious renovation of the iconic Parisian museum since I.M. Pei’s glass and steel pyramid in 1989.

The project has a twofold objective: on the one hand, to improve the accessibility, functionality and security of the museum spaces, particularly in light of the embarrassing issues that have emerged in recent times, including a shocking theft, difficulties in managing visitor flows and technical infrastructure problems; on the other, to redefine the connection between the museum and its surrounding urban context through clearer and more effective routes, links and views, whilst maintaining a sense of established grandeur.

Although the details of the project have not yet been disclosed, the winning proposal includes, amongst other works, the landscape reorganisation of the east-west axis, to better integrate the complex with the city; the reconfiguration of the moats, accessible via two symmetrical ramps, as green spaces equipped for ecological purposes; the addition of two new underground entrances to speed up visitor flows and direct them more easily to the reception areas. Among the most eagerly awaited interventions is the creation of dedicated routes for the most famous works, including a specific itinerary for the Mona Lisa, which is currently often squeezed in chaotic and overcrowded exhibit conditions.

Like the ambitions, the budget is exorbitant – over a billion euros – but perhaps this is the price to pay to leave a mark for posterity.

Opening image: The Cour Napoléon of the Louvre Museum in Paris and the glass pyramid designed by I.M. Pei. Photo Irina Lediaeva via Unsplash