The Nationwide Library of France Reopens with Renovations That Add twenty first Century Particulars to the Beaux-Arts Gem — Colossal



Design
Historical past

#structure
#Bruno Gaudin
#France
#libraries

All photos © Bruno Gaudin Architects

After greater than a decade of renovations by architect Bruno Gaudin, the Bibliothèque Nationale de France reopened final fall with extra mild and area to view each the huge collections and the unique Beaux-Arts options of the area.

Unfold throughout two websites, the Richelieu and François-Mitterrand, the now-updated repository at Richelieu dates again to the 18th century. French architect Henri Labrouste initially designed the most important studying room, generally known as the Salle Ovale, which is essentially preserved with a vaulted glass ceiling spanning 60 ft, mosaics cloaking the ceilings, and a whole lot of 1000’s of volumes lining the perimeter and inside cabinets. The regal area is now open to the general public for the primary time.

For the renovation, Gaudin added a big, metal and aluminum staircase that spirals towards the higher flooring, which home a museum and the almost 150-foot-long Mazarin Gallery with its Baroque frescoed ceiling. A glass walkway with an angular, sloping roof connects the east and west sides of the library, and the architect added a brand new entrance for larger accessibility.

Alongside books, the library additionally shops an unlimited array of historic paperwork and artworks totaling 22 million objects. Inside its halls, you’ll discover the second-largest assortment of Greek vases on this planet, authentic prints from Rembrandt and Picasso, an engraving by Matisse, a Gutenberg Bible, and Charlemagne’s ivory chess set, to call a number of. 

#structure
#Bruno Gaudin
#France
#libraries

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