ARCHITECTURE
Pathé Foundation brings aluminium "organic creature" to Parisian streets
The Fondation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé (Pathé Foundation), created to preserve the history of the French film company Pathé and promote cinematography, is an unusual sight among the more traditional Paris buildings.
26 May, 2016
Designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, this impressionable aluminium clad building finds itself in a charming courtyard hemmed in between several 20th century buildings, the former location of a 19th century theatre which was later converted to become one of the first Parisian cinemas.
Taking into account the limited space available and various restrictions, designers created an egg-shaped form, which looks over the buildings surrounding it with its curved glass rooftop made with layers of arched timber beams, glazed panes, and aluminium louvers, to ensure external solar protection.
These perforated aluminium fins add a kinetic effect to the structure while also ensuring that the doubled glazed panes don't overheat and result in broken glass. The aluminium louvres have also been engineered to allow for maximum light and privacy, a vital concern in a glass building. The result has been described as a "dynamic parasite in an aluminium coil."
These perforated aluminium fins add a kinetic effect to the structure while also ensuring that the doubled glazed panes don't overheat and result in broken glass. The aluminium louvres have also been engineered to allow for maximum light and privacy, a vital concern in a glass building. The result has been described as a "dynamic parasite in an aluminium coil."
The art of inserting a building into an historical city block means engaging in an open, physical dialogue with those already there... Building onto an extant structure also presents an opportunity for a more widespread renovation project, a reclaiming of space.
While the outside aesthetic of the Pathé Foundation has already made a strong impression and dubbed an "organic creature", the inside of the building and its purpose it equally important. In support of cinematography, the Foundation will house Pathé's archives, several spaces for temporary exhibitions, a permanent collection, a 70 seat screening room, along with the Foundation's offices.
Inside, visitors will enter the building through a historical facade with sculptures by Auguste Rodin, and will then proceed to an interior glass box, which offers uninterrupted views of the courtyard, where we find a stand of birch trees and a floral island. Looking up, one can see a spiral staircase linking the upper floors of the main building.
Inside, visitors will enter the building through a historical facade with sculptures by Auguste Rodin, and will then proceed to an interior glass box, which offers uninterrupted views of the courtyard, where we find a stand of birch trees and a floral island. Looking up, one can see a spiral staircase linking the upper floors of the main building.
"Looking like a greenhouse, it offers a view on the interior garden through the transparent ground floor of a second building in the central court that houses the project's main functions" - Dezeen
What makes this building so special is the joy of discovering it. While the building maintains a discreet presence in the day time, visitors are bound to be captivated by the Foundation's true nature from within the courtyard.
Renzo Piano Building Workshop also designed the Shard Skyscraper in London as well the the Kimbell Art Museam extension in Texas.
Renzo Piano Building Workshop also designed the Shard Skyscraper in London as well the the Kimbell Art Museam extension in Texas.