Much more central than their former residence on boulevard Raspail, the brand new Cartier Basis exhibition area for modern artwork is now simply subsequent to the Louvre, taking on three flooring of an impressive nineteenth century constructing that was once the Louvre des Antiquaires, and that includes a intelligent system of moveable flooring to make the most of their new abundance of area.
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The constructing that’s now the Cartier Basis has lived quite a few lives already.
Inbuilt 1885 as a division retailer known as Les Grands Magasins du Louvre, it closed in 1974 however reopened in 1978 because the Louvre des Antiquaires, with 250 unbiased vintage distributors on three flooring, whereas the higher flooring of the constructing had been made into places of work (as they nonetheless are).
Regardless of a lot success within the Nineteen Eighties, the enterprise attracted fewer and fewer clients over time, and definitively closed its doorways in 2020.
Architect Jean Nouvel was commissioned by Cartier to remodel the constructing into an arts exhibition area, the identical Jean Nouvel who designed the unique Cartier Basis on boulevard Raspail in 1994.
Previously utilizing a 1,200m² area, the Basis now has over 6,000m² to indicate modern works, which guarantees some attention-grabbing giant exhibitions to return, however the first present for the area’s inauguration is named Exposition Générale (a title utilized by the division retailer to promote its wares within the nineteenth century), that includes a number of items from the Basis’s assortment, which it began in 1984.
Anybody who might have been contained in the constructing in its former incarnation will probably be shocked by the sheer area, now that lots of the partitions and flooring have been eliminated. There are giant areas with excessive ceilings, but in addition small galleries for smaller works (typically pictures or work), and the quantity of pure mild for some areas, coming from both roof home windows or the massive home windows along side the constructing, is an agreeable shock.
Whereas a lot of the area is open plan, it’s additionally a sort of labyrinth which requires a good bit of exploration if you wish to see each final space. The largest areas are within the lengthy central part, in addition to within the basements to every facet, however you’ll occur upon many small rooms too, so you’ll want to take a look at every of the three flooring absolutely. You may additionally often see an area you’d like to achieve, however not the staircase you’ll want to get there!
Fortunately, with all of the areas of various heights, measurement and lighting, every work has the presentation it deserves, with quite a few installations, work, pictures, textile works, movies…
In addition to the exhibitions, the Basis has a espresso store already open, plus (in Spring 2026) a ‘inventive bar‘ and a restaurant.
The bookshop – well-stocked – could be accessed by paying guests earlier than they depart, and will probably be open to all between exhibitions due to its doorways onto rue de Rivoli.
One final thing – whenever you depart the Basis, do go down the metro entrance simply in entrance, as this results in one of many final stays of the constructing’s life as a division retailer – a protracted hall beneath Palais-Royal sq. that was once a purchasing gallery, a hidden spot that not many Paris guests know!
The Cartier Basis (right here) is open each day besides Mondays from 11am-8pm (10pm Tuesdays)
Admission: 15€ / 10€
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