First, he took Venice in 2005. Now, he’ll take the City of Light. In April 2016, François Pinault announced that his personal collection of modern and contemporary art had found a permanent future home in central Paris. This morning, the luxury magnate offered a first glimpse of the future Pinault Collection.
The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, joined Pinault along with his son François-Henri Pinault, CEO of the Kering group, and the architect Tadao Ando for a conference onsite at the Bourse de Commerce to reveal their ambitious plans for the landmark building. Originally home to the stock exchange, this neoclassical building-in-the-round is located in a recess between numbers 40 and 42 Rue du Louvre, on the western end of the garden at Les Halles, aka “the belly of Paris.” Most recently it was the seat of the regional chamber of commerce, and as such, played host to a variety of trade shows, conferences, and other one-off events. In its new incarnation, and after an approximately €108 million renovation, the Pinault Collection will hold a 50-year lease; the city of Paris will receive $7 million per year, plus royalties.
In his comments, François Pinault underscored that this adventure “is not personal, but familial and collective,” and described the dual goals of inscribing the building in the 21st century, including meeting stringent environmental standards while putting its history forward. François-Henri Pinault added that the choice of a location, near the Pompidou Center, the Louvre, and the Musée d’Orsay, was very symbolic: “Original architecture has always blended tradition and creation, and we are very sensitive to this,” he said, noting the family’s wish to show art in movement and share it with the greatest number. Quoting Seneca, he noted that happiness lies in sharing: “We will not only be in the heart of Paris, but also in the heart of everyone who visits.”
Noted Hidalgo, “What is not transmitted is lost. Paris has always been a city of creation, where for centuries creators come from all over the world to meet and exchange. Paris is a legendary city of dreams that puts stars in the eyes of those who know it and those who would like to know it. As a citizen and mayor, art inspires me. This city is fundamentally optimistic about building the future, and valorizing our beautiful capital is what you are offering us here.”
In addition to preserving several unique features, such as the immense 1800s ironwork, the glass cupola—the world’s first such structure—and a double-helix stairway, its turn-of-the-century woodwork will be reinstated. The new museum will include 3,000 square meters of exhibition space; its five-floor layout features a 300-seat basement auditorium and a restaurant on the top floor. Ando said that he was inspired by the circular building to reinforce the idea of a “circle within a perfect circle” to create “an epicenter of art in Paris.”
Pinault père added that, while it’s still too early to say what the museum’s programming will be, the goal is clear: “It will be the spearhead of contemporary art, a path to the future in the heart of Paris.” The museum, which will be directed by Martin Bethenod, is expected to open to the public in 2019.
