the Pompidou Centre--must see
Maison de Verre (if you can get in)
Maison la Roche (sp?) --Corbu
newer stuff:
Rue de Suisse Housing--Herzog & deMeuron
Cartier Foundation--Nouvel
Arab Institue--Nouvel (must see, inside and out)
Park la Villete--Tshcumi
Park Citroen
the modern Nortre Dame in La Defense--Franck Hammoutene
Biblioteque National--Dominique Perrault (must see)
just outside of Paris:
the Stadt de France is pretty cool if you can get out there
-as is the school of engineering and architecture
-Villa Savoy in Poissy (Corbu)
wangsta> Your two "must see" buildings were my two least favorite in Paris. Cartier foundation bored me to tears... Bibliotheque Nationale is a complete failure. On the other hand, Nouvel's new Musee du Quai Branly.
Savoye is a must see, I agree, as is Maison de Verre, although that's under reconstruction at the moment, I believe, and is not open to the public. Worth a check, though.
Bibliotheque nationale has a really great interior descending entrance once you get past all the security. And if at all possible, try to get a tour of the inner workings. There is this amazing computerized conveying system that brings books down from the huge stacks to the quasi subterranean reading rooms.
I love Cartier Foundation. It's massive scale in relation to its neighbors is virtually lost in it's beautiful transparent curtain wall.
Don't forget about the parks too. Parc Citron and Parc de la Villette…
Don’t be so critical of the “old†stuff. Take a look at old courtyards and the way the materials on these buildings, roofs, sidewalks, etc. have aged...something we rarely see in the US because we are always “remodeling it†the second it is constructed or the materials used just aren’t intended to last.
mpsyp...just because the Bib doesn't function properly doesn't mean it's a complete failure as a building...it has some redeeming spaces--interior and exterior, also some inventive use of materials. and how could the Arab institute bore you to tears?!!!! I'm sorry man, i don't get it....did you go on a cloudy day?
the Musee du Quai Branly was under construction when i was there, haven't seen it completed....what did you think of it mpsyp? the photos are pretty intriguing.
I agree, see the old stuff too, and the parks!
oh, i forgot to mention the Viaduct park...i think that's what it's called. it's an elevated park that runs down Avenue Daumesnil (sp?) incredibly peaceful park that offers great glimpses of the city from a different perspective.
check out the catacombs....truly a strange experience...pretty close to the Cartier foundation too if i remember correctly.
The Viaduct is really great. An amazing ‘Elevated Green Space’. I forgot all about it...and that’s just stupid because I was practically living over it for a month...our courtyard entrance was through one of the arches. There are a few good furniture places there but I didn't see much because I was there during the Parisian exodus known as Holliday. It dead ends near Place de Bastille. Arrondissement 11.
I agree with Wangsta about the Bib.
As far as the Arab institute goes, A lot of the mechanical screens were broken and I was disappointed because I kept missing the change. I really loved the space off of the entrance that had a ceiling and floor made of stainless steel and glass and mirror? walls. It was almost overwhelming...plus the ceiling was so low that I was dragging my head across it.
mhopkins, are you a KU student or did you study abroad through Accent? i stayed in a building along the viaduct that had a courtyard entrance as well...probably the same one!
No not a KU student, but yes I did do a study abroad through Accent. I'm sure we were in the same building. Depending on when you were there...you may have heard stories of the "evil" group that almost got sent home. Some kids from our studio thought they were on spring break in Panama City and didn't act like very good ambassadors. Embarrassing to say the least. Its people like these that make the rest of us (and by 'us' I mean Americans") look bad.
It's one thing to party and have fun, it's another to vomit out your window onto the sill of the guy below yours and then scream down to friends to show them what you did...
that's really funny in hindsight, but sad that it happened abroad...we Yanks already have a bad rap, no need to make it worse.
but our group wasn't exactly angelic either...we had a guy who made what he called 'bum bombs', basically firecrackers that he would chuck out of his apartment window at the poor defenseless homeless guy who took refuge in our alley.
yeah, i totally identify with 'screaming down to friends'...it's so easy to pick out the Am. tourists...we're so loud
wangsta> No, it was sunny on the day that we saw the Arab Institute. The irises just came off, to me, as a gimmick. Nice shadows inside, I suppose, but kind of felt like being inside of a cheese grater. The polished metal floors didn't help. Plus, there's not a whole lot of spatial variability to the building, at least the parts you're allowed into. And then there's the ritual of watching the irises to see if they move. This is the stuff of legends!
Perhaps the bibliotheque has some redeeming qualities... I didn't go in, it was closed. It sure didn't seem to work as a public space, though. What is the deal with the forest pit? I love the idea, on paper. But then Perrault makes it so it's hardly visible from the plaza above. Why? Is it some sort of sick joke, the forest packed away like a rare book? I dunno...
Quai Branly was great. The green wall is fantastic. The landscaping is charming. The promenade through the building is a bit excessive, but novel nonetheless. An interesting way to separate the public and private uses of the building, having a long, winding ramp cut through an open space of meeting halls and offices. Plus the exhibit was great. A lot of really great artifacts.
Marc
Sep 20, 06 6:38 pm ·
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in paris. modern architecture to see?
what is worth seeing in paris?
no old-people crusty columns or baroquitudes.
just modern stuff. 1920s on, please.
of course you've got your modern classics:
the Pompidou Centre--must see
Maison de Verre (if you can get in)
Maison la Roche (sp?) --Corbu
newer stuff:
Rue de Suisse Housing--Herzog & deMeuron
Cartier Foundation--Nouvel
Arab Institue--Nouvel (must see, inside and out)
Park la Villete--Tshcumi
Park Citroen
the modern Nortre Dame in La Defense--Franck Hammoutene
Biblioteque National--Dominique Perrault (must see)
just outside of Paris:
the Stadt de France is pretty cool if you can get out there
-as is the school of engineering and architecture
-Villa Savoy in Poissy (Corbu)
i could go on, but i got to go to lunch!
wangsta> Your two "must see" buildings were my two least favorite in Paris. Cartier foundation bored me to tears... Bibliotheque Nationale is a complete failure. On the other hand, Nouvel's new Musee du Quai Branly.
Savoye is a must see, I agree, as is Maison de Verre, although that's under reconstruction at the moment, I believe, and is not open to the public. Worth a check, though.
Sorry, meant to say Arab Institute bored me to tears... I didn't get a chance to go in to the Cartier Foundation but really wanted to...
Bibliotheque nationale has a really great interior descending entrance once you get past all the security. And if at all possible, try to get a tour of the inner workings. There is this amazing computerized conveying system that brings books down from the huge stacks to the quasi subterranean reading rooms.
I love Cartier Foundation. It's massive scale in relation to its neighbors is virtually lost in it's beautiful transparent curtain wall.
Don't forget about the parks too. Parc Citron and Parc de la Villette…
Don’t be so critical of the “old†stuff. Take a look at old courtyards and the way the materials on these buildings, roofs, sidewalks, etc. have aged...something we rarely see in the US because we are always “remodeling it†the second it is constructed or the materials used just aren’t intended to last.
mpsyp...just because the Bib doesn't function properly doesn't mean it's a complete failure as a building...it has some redeeming spaces--interior and exterior, also some inventive use of materials. and how could the Arab institute bore you to tears?!!!! I'm sorry man, i don't get it....did you go on a cloudy day?
the Musee du Quai Branly was under construction when i was there, haven't seen it completed....what did you think of it mpsyp? the photos are pretty intriguing.
I agree, see the old stuff too, and the parks!
oh, i forgot to mention the Viaduct park...i think that's what it's called. it's an elevated park that runs down Avenue Daumesnil (sp?) incredibly peaceful park that offers great glimpses of the city from a different perspective.
check out the catacombs....truly a strange experience...pretty close to the Cartier foundation too if i remember correctly.
ahhh Paris! take me back!
The Viaduct is really great. An amazing ‘Elevated Green Space’. I forgot all about it...and that’s just stupid because I was practically living over it for a month...our courtyard entrance was through one of the arches. There are a few good furniture places there but I didn't see much because I was there during the Parisian exodus known as Holliday. It dead ends near Place de Bastille. Arrondissement 11.
I agree with Wangsta about the Bib.
As far as the Arab institute goes, A lot of the mechanical screens were broken and I was disappointed because I kept missing the change. I really loved the space off of the entrance that had a ceiling and floor made of stainless steel and glass and mirror? walls. It was almost overwhelming...plus the ceiling was so low that I was dragging my head across it.
mhopkins, are you a KU student or did you study abroad through Accent? i stayed in a building along the viaduct that had a courtyard entrance as well...probably the same one!
don't need any help with picking old stuff to see. got that covered.
good list so far, thanks.
No not a KU student, but yes I did do a study abroad through Accent. I'm sure we were in the same building. Depending on when you were there...you may have heard stories of the "evil" group that almost got sent home. Some kids from our studio thought they were on spring break in Panama City and didn't act like very good ambassadors. Embarrassing to say the least. Its people like these that make the rest of us (and by 'us' I mean Americans") look bad.
It's one thing to party and have fun, it's another to vomit out your window onto the sill of the guy below yours and then scream down to friends to show them what you did...
i was there the summer of '03
that's really funny in hindsight, but sad that it happened abroad...we Yanks already have a bad rap, no need to make it worse.
but our group wasn't exactly angelic either...we had a guy who made what he called 'bum bombs', basically firecrackers that he would chuck out of his apartment window at the poor defenseless homeless guy who took refuge in our alley.
yeah, i totally identify with 'screaming down to friends'...it's so easy to pick out the Am. tourists...we're so loud
wd, that just looks just yummy! never seen it/heard of it.
wangsta> No, it was sunny on the day that we saw the Arab Institute. The irises just came off, to me, as a gimmick. Nice shadows inside, I suppose, but kind of felt like being inside of a cheese grater. The polished metal floors didn't help. Plus, there's not a whole lot of spatial variability to the building, at least the parts you're allowed into. And then there's the ritual of watching the irises to see if they move. This is the stuff of legends!
Perhaps the bibliotheque has some redeeming qualities... I didn't go in, it was closed. It sure didn't seem to work as a public space, though. What is the deal with the forest pit? I love the idea, on paper. But then Perrault makes it so it's hardly visible from the plaza above. Why? Is it some sort of sick joke, the forest packed away like a rare book? I dunno...
Quai Branly was great. The green wall is fantastic. The landscaping is charming. The promenade through the building is a bit excessive, but novel nonetheless. An interesting way to separate the public and private uses of the building, having a long, winding ramp cut through an open space of meeting halls and offices. Plus the exhibit was great. A lot of really great artifacts.
Marc
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