BACKGROUND: THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
1970: an international architectural competition was launched. It was based on a programme aimed at achieving the objectives set by President Georges Pompidou and drawn up by the Sébastien Loste team. Chaired by the internationally renowned architect Jean Prouvé, the prize-winners selected by the jury were Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Gianfranco Franchini, assisted by Ove Arup & Partners. The Centre Pompidou construction office, called Etablissement public constructeur du Centre Beaubourg, was set up at the end of 1971, through a decree by the Ministry for the Arts and Culture. Robert Bordaz was appointed as its chairman.
CONSTRUCTION AND OPENING TO THE PUBLIC
Construction work started in April 1972 and work on the metal framework was begun in September 1974. At the same time, the centre's future institutions were defined. In July 1972, the Centre de création industrielle became part of the Centre Pompidou. In 1974, it was proposed to transfer the collections from the Musée national d'art moderne in Avenue Président Wilson. After almost 5 years' work, the Centre national d'art et de culture Georges Pompidou was inaugurated by the President of the Republic Valéry Giscard d'Estaing on 31 January 1977, and on 2 February, it opened its doors to the public. Since 1977, the Centre Pompidou has received over 150 million visitors.
COSTS
Building costs (MF = millions of Francs, in 1972)
Land purchase: 85 MF. Main buildings and equipment: 750 MF. Ircam: 100 MF. Place Stravinsky: 28 MF. Miscellaneous: 30 MF. Total: 993 MF.
Costs of renovation work
(october
1996 to january 2000)
State aid : 440 MF (1994 francs) raised to 482 MF (1999 francs). Equipment subsidies : 54 MF. Sponsorship and patronage : 40 MF. Total budget : 576 MF (1999 francs).
|
|
ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURE
Colours
Colour-coded ducts are attached to the outside of the building: blue for air; green for fluids; yellow for electricity cables; and red for movement and flow (elevators) and safety (fire extinguishers).
Movement and flow
The priority was to maximise functional movement and flow, freeing up internal space by building the ducts and conveyance systems (stairs, elevators etc.) on the outside.
BUILDING DESIGN
The centre's architects, Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Gianfranco Franchini designed the building on the lines of an "evolving spatial diagram".
The building was designed in two parts:
1. a 3-level infrastructure housing the technical facilities and service areas,
2. a vast 7-level glass and steel superstructure, including a terrace and mezzanine floor, concentrating most of the centre's areas of activity together, except for Ircam which is in Place Stravinsky.
The Centre Pompidou's designers aimed to maximise spatial movement and flow to foster an interdisciplinary approach.
BUILDING STRUCTURE
The metal framework has 14 porticos with 13 bays, each spanning 48 m and standing 12.8 m apart. On top of the posts, on each level, are moulded steel beam hangers, measuring 8 m in length and weighing 10 tonnes.
45 m long girders rest on the beam hangars, which spread stress through the posts and are balanced by tie-beams anchored on cross-bars. Each storey is 7 m high floor-to-floor. The glass and steel superstructure envelops the free open spaces.
|