Design historical past
#structure #Bruno Gaudin #France #libraries
January 9, 2023
Grace Ebert
![](https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/gaudin-2.jpg)
All pictures © 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 area’s authentic Beaux-Arts options.
Unfold over two websites, Richelieu and François-Mitterrand, the present up to date warehouse at Richelieu dates again to the 18th century. French architect Henri Labrouste initially designed the principle studying room, referred to as the Salle Ovale, which is essentially preserved with a vaulted glass ceiling that stretches 60 toes, mosaics protecting the ceilings, and tons of of 1000’s of volumes that line the perimeter and inside cabinets. The royal area is now open to the general public for the primary time.
For the renovation, Gaudin added a grand, steel-and-aluminum staircase that results in the higher flooring, which home a museum and the almost 150-foot-long Mazarin Gallery with its Baroque-style frescoed ceiling. A glass walkway with an angular, pitched roof connects the east and west sides of the library, and the architect added a brand new entrance for better accessibility.
Along with books, the library additionally shops a variety of historic paperwork and artistic endeavors, totaling 22 million objects. In its halls, you may discover the world’s second-largest assortment of Greek vases, authentic prints by Rembrandt and Picasso, a Matisse engraving, a Gutenberg Bible, and Charlemagne’s ivory chess set, to call a couple of.
#structure #Bruno Gaudin #France #libraries
Do tales and artists like this matter to you? Change into a Colossal member at the moment and assist impartial artwork publishing for simply $5 a month. You may join with a group of readers who’re keen about up to date artwork, learn ad-free articles and newsletters, assist our interview sequence, get reductions and early entry to our restricted version prints, and extra. Be part of now!