The cultural center, located in the Beaubourg quarter (Rue Beaubourg, 9), is the very place where "art goes to the people." Every tourist, vacationing in Paris, dreams of getting into the wonderful world of architectural fantasy. The unusual building admires the original model of the building: the communication system and all the technical structures are located outside, and the interior space is occupied by exhibition and concert halls.
After the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum, the most famous museum on the planet, the Pompidou Center in Paris takes third place among the main attractions of the French capital.
Architectural masterpiece
The president of the country in 1969 decided to build a cultural center that could implement cultural projects that have not yet been implemented. Georges Pompidou, who took the course towards the modernization of the country, wanted to create an original architectural object. 49 countries took part in the competition, and the French unanimously chose the Italian and English project, where it was proposed to move all communication networks outside the perimeter, thereby freeing up the room area.
The rapidly gaining popularity of the Center national d'art et de culture Georges-Pompidou, named after the president, opened its doors to visitors in 1977. Spectators differently appreciated the building resembling an architectural monster: elevators, piping, reinforcing joints, ventilation pipes were outside and were painted in different colors. An extravagant building, the appearance of which did not resemble the elegant architecture of Paris in any way, caused a storm of emotions, but the initial passions passed, and a cultural institution, which was compared with an oil refinery, quickly becomes the most popular attraction.
And in 2007, architects even received the prestigious Pritzker Prize, and the building was called a real breakthrough in the world of architecture. The only building in the world whose architectural features make it unique, consists of glass and concrete, and such an innovative solution anticipated modern building technologies.
The Georges Pompidou Center in Paris is a public institution owned by the French Ministry of Culture, and its head is appointed by presidential decree.
Cultural center for all age categories
Of course, the unique cultural center attracts not only with its unusual form, but also with its content. The five-story building, which receives more than 16 thousand visitors daily, includes a huge cinema where various festivals are held, including arthouse cinema, a public library, a museum of modern art, exhibition halls.
A great advantage for the guests of the center are the places where you can leave your children without worrying about what they will do. There are special workshops for kids, where, under the guidance of adults, they can make clay figures or receive painting lessons.
The Pompidou Center in Paris received over 150 million guests. Sixteen years ago, its area was increased due to the arrangement of the external territory, and in 2000 the renewed institution reopened its doors for those who wish.
Modern Art Museum
So, what to see the tourist who decided to visit the Center Pompidou in Paris? The National Museum of Modern Art, whose collections number about 60 thousand exhibits, is located on the 4th and 5th floors of the center. The upper level, dedicated to the beginning and middle of the last century, will acquaint viewers with the work of Chagall, Kandinsky, Malevich, Picasso and many other great painters. In addition, here you can see interesting designs of architectural structures and sculptural compositions.
The lower floor shows different directions of contemporary art. In order to stay afloat and not lose their positions, the Pompidou Center in Paris, which competes with modern museums, is constantly updating its collections, and tourists will never get tired of the uniformity of exhibits. Throughout the year, visitors are given the opportunity to attend thematic and personal exhibitions, which cover not only architecture, painting, sculpture, but also photography, design, and applied art.
Public library
The public library, for which the second and third floors are reserved, annually updates both book collections and the technical base. For example, she offers those wishing to use language laboratories, reading rooms for the blind. This is not quite an ordinary institution: books, periodicals, and films on various media are stored here.
The library hosts creative meetings and scientific seminars. I must say that book editions are available for reading in the reading room, and you won’t succeed in taking a volume of your favorite poems home. Our compatriots will be pleased to know that among others there is literature in Russian, and the general fund of the library is 350 thousand books, 24 thousand periodicals, more than two thousand films and music recordings.
Cinema halls and theaters
On the second floor there are two cinema halls, in which retrospectives of films by famous directors are regularly held. Here you can see the best works and expand your knowledge on thematic tours.
The basement of the center is occupied by four platforms where advanced theater directors and actors work. These are very unusual rooms, devoid of the usual scene, curtains and stalls. Spectators will be able to see not only dramatic performances, but also dance events, music concerts.
IRCAM
The George Pompidou Center in Paris includes the IRCAM (Institute for Research and Coordination of Music and Acoustics), which is part of a common complex but located in a separate building. The works created by the research institution can be heard in various productions and at Paris concerts.
Stravinsky Square
Stravinsky Square in front of the cultural center has long been a favorite place for creative people. Carnivals, fairs, art exhibitions and creative evenings are held here. And to the right of the architectural masterpiece is the original fountain of the same name - a bizarre water extravaganza that displays musical themes from the works of the Russian composer.
The Georges Pompidou Center in Paris, whose photos demonstrate the wonders of architectural art, is the city’s most remarkable art object, and thanks to the audacity of the authors and the innovative approach, the cultural institution has turned into a large-scale project. According to the exhibition organizers, only selling tickets for the year brings a profit of 24 million euros.