West entrance to the Louvre-an imperative counter-project

The next international architectural competition launched by Macron President for a new entrance to the Louvre museum in Paris in front of the church of Saint-Germain-l’Aserrois, testifies to an adventurous decision, certainly particularly expensive. Nevertheless, The alternative exists, at least five times cheaper! Moreover, Ten times more prestigious? However, Explanations.

For thirty years. Consequently, the entrance to the Louvre via the pyramid has been inadequate, not only because it is underdimensive-it is enough to see the queues in the rain or in the middle of a dodge-but because, if indeed the pyramid was an adapted response in the axis of the obelisk and the Arc west entrance louvre-an imperative counter-project de Triomphe, such a work was never intended to serve as a door, except in general for a man who never stands out.

In fact. Nevertheless, again on June 17, 2025, the Louvre was blocked several hours after a surprise strike by its reception agents who intended to denounce the surcourism and degraded working conditions after the abolition of 200 jobs in fifteen years (The world 06/17/2025). Similarly, Visitory tails left to themselves are among the moving memories of the 80 % of foreign visitors who frequent. For example, the museum each year. Consequently, The French are undoubtedly less surprised … Similarly, In short, that is to say if there was an urgency to find a solution.

This explains why Macron President announced. In addition, on January 28, 2025, the creation of a new entry for the Louvre, by 2031 ” at the latest “, In the facade of the west entrance louvre-an imperative counter-project Colonnade de Perrault, facing the Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois church, full east.* To this is added the construction” large underground spaces under the square courtyard. Similarly, offering an east-west traffic axis “And the moving of the Mona Lisa in a reserved space, under the square courtyard,” Accessible independently, with a clean access title ». Therefore, Called without imagination “New Renaissance du Louvre”. Therefore, this colossal project with many unknowns is estimated between 700 and 800 M €, including at least 300 M € for the new entrance gate. Consequently, Either including the budget of a large CHU at the forefront of innovation for a dear door. For example, which tourists will have to find, and a work of termites without natural light.

The president. In addition, on this date, on January 28, therefore, first indicated the launch of an international architectural competition before the end of February – a delay obviously too short west entrance louvre-an imperative counter-project for those who are concerned about a little architecture and includes its operation – it will ultimately be at the end of June 2025; Or later who knows at a time when I write these lines. Perhaps in Saint-Glinglin since the promises, as the other said …?

There is no doubt in any case that since this announcement which has gone around the world. renders Vulcan-Ex-Jupiter, number of agencies ” international “Prepare their teams and fill their arguments. In the end, however, there will remain four agencies selected by a sovereign jury. Nouvel. de Portzampac, Lacaton & Vassal… Outdoor pritzkers, Ricciotti having already made the arts of Islam and Wilmotte Le Carrousel, who on the French? Dominique Perrault and his underground passion? But he is tattooed Mitterrand and Macron is now very right. Philippe Prost? Philippe Madec? Bernard Desmoulin? The new Aom? In any case, there will be, at best, west entrance louvre-an imperative counter-project no more than two places. The other two. at least, are indeed reserved for a Japanese, a Danish, a Norwegian, a Dutchman, an Englishman, even an Italian, who will leave favorites as for a common building of the Monde After reading the story of the Louvre on Wikipedia in their vernacular.

However. at a time when France is desperately looking for savings for its national budget-and € 800 M, it is a sum-is it very judicious, in this place, under the moats, to commit for such a project as expensive as they are uncertain? However, there is another way to meet the needs of the Louvre and the state budget while avoiding mess. Indeed. the project-or rather counter-project-signed Sarea (Alain Sarfati) and Ameller Dubois (Stéphane Védrenne), that Architectural chronicles Unveil here, offers much cheaper a solution completely to the west, no doubt but much more practical and prestigious. **

What west entrance louvre-an imperative counter-project is it? This project. to quote its designers, offers by the West therefore a monumental, main and emblematic entry, in direct relation to the center of the Louvre and the pyramid. She joined the Tuileries garden in the largest museum in the world. makes the brilliant perspective made from the square court to the defense even more intense. This is evidenced by the cut below.

From the Tuileries, a gentle sloping esplanade – the Dromos des Greeks, beautifully exploited by Oscar Niemeyer, notably for the Cathedral of Brasilia *** – offers widely open access to the public and facilitates the course to the new Mona Lisa room without disturbing the symbolic function of the pyramid. From the garden. west entrance louvre-an imperative counter-project at the end of the central aisle, little by little the visitors arrive on both sides of the enclosure of Philippe Auguste without any discomfort or expectations. Up to the elements. going from the prismatic vision of the inverted pyramid to the vertical flight of the pyramid, before discovering the Mona Lisa, they will be all the more patient as they will have time to walk in the vast commercial, cultural and tourist areas to which these m² are already there, it will be easy to give a scripted destination.

Why such a cost difference between the two projects? It is not complicated: here a design that relies on the existing. whose two boulingrins which border this new esplanade, limited work, a quick achievement, no demolition: nothing more than a luxurious earthworks which will not scare any French company and will not harm archaeological research. There is not even a west entrance louvre-an imperative counter-project need for crane. just know-how in a hyper short circuit (the extraction land will not be lost-and why not transform it into bricks bearing the names of the sponsors?). In addition. these works will have a low impact on the usual functioning of the museum which will lose nothing in terms of income. Finally. as in Notre-Dame, in the event of an administrative boost and a chief’s chin, the work will be completed long before 2031. The Louvre himself will have kept his architectural integrity.

In the meantime. a competition will therefore be launched soon and it is certain that if the president (of the jury) only plans as expected that the only option of an entry in front of the Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois church, that is a work oriented east as a rainy day of February, then certainly Alain Sarfati and Stéphane Védrenne, by definition out of competition, will not be west entrance louvre-an imperative counter-project retained for the only French tickets. But it will then be necessary to the president (of the jury) to explain why. in these times of scarcity, he wants to spend so much for a dancer, that is to say an uncertain, complicated project and at a particularly high cost, even if the alternative is now known and, for anyone with good sense, is obvious.

« This project will make it possible to place the Louvre in the heart of the city and to make it an epicenter of art history “Said the president (of the country) when he was announced in January. Now. if in June or July the competition ” international west entrance louvre-an imperative counter-project »Only as much as a new entry that solves all the problems and incorporates the Tuileries garden, he will surely see his wishes.

And for Sarea and Ameller Dubois, the bets will be open…

Christophe Leray

* Read our new entry from the Louvre? Here the exit!
** Discover the new western entry presentation of the Louvre: the project
*** Read the chronicle at the Louvre, the largest museum in the world, we forgot the entrance