The setting-up of such a Center in Metz is a novel venture in cultural decentralization by a national institution. It will inject vital and hitherto scarce lifeblood into a region which had little infrastructure of note in the field of modern and contemporary visual arts and will constitute an institution of international scope.
The creation of the Metz site will enable a new threshold to be crossed in the Pompidou Center's policy, initiated in 1997 during its renovation works, for cultural diffusion outside Paris. The Metz project intends to be living proof of an ambitious example of decentralization which will strengthen regional roles. The fact of setting up such an institution in Metz, close to Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg, will also enhance the institution's artistic influence within Europe. Alongside the high-speed TGV project linking Paris to Eastern Europe, proximity to the borders with other countries makes Metz an ideal pole of attraction for visitors from Eastern and Northern Europe.
Constituting an overall surface area of some 12,000 m2 for 6,000 m2 of exhibition space, the new Center will open up access for people from Europe to the exceptional scope and quality of collections from the Musée National d'Art Moderne kept in the Pompidou Center. The new institution will also comprise public reception halls and areas for cinema showings, performances, conferences, a bookshop, a restaurant and a cafeteria.
Time Line
March 8 2003: Launching of an architectural competition via publication of an international tender
April 2003Decision by the Communauté d'Agglomération de Metz to assume the role of project contractor
Drafting of the architectural program, facilities development and competition rules by teams from the Pompidou Center and the City of Metz
Making up of the jury
May 12: 157 applications from architects throughout the world
May 27: Selection by the jury, presided over by Mr. Jean-Marie Rausch, President of the Communauté d'Agglomération de Metz Métropole and Mayor of Metz and of which President of the Pompidou Center Mr. Bruno Racine is part, of the six teams of architects admitted to compete
Submision of the projects by the six teams of project managers
Meeting of the jury and choice of the winning project
Announcement of the results of the consultation with architects by the President of the Communauté d'Agglomération Metz Métropole (CA2M)
Studies, tenders and attribution of markets
Construction and development worksite
Opening of the
Centre Pompidou-Metz to the public
Results of the jury, May 27 2003
(selection of the six teams of architects admitted to present a detailed project)
Foreign Office Architects (FOA), Londres
Jean de Gastines, Paris and Shigeru Ban, Tokyo
Herzog & de Meuron, Bâle
Stéphane Maupin and Pascal Cribier, Paris
NOX Architekten, Rotterdam
Dominique Perrault, Paris
The winning project
The winners of the competition are
Shigeru Ban (Tokyo), Jean de Gastines (Paris) et Philip Gumuchdjian (Londres).
Discover the
Paper temporary studio by Shigeru Ban where the Centre Pompidou-Metz is being designed.
