Les Halles. The New Heart of Paris

Just a couple of weeks away from the beginning of work for the redevelopment of the site of Les Halles, the exhibition “Les Halles, The New Heart of Paris” opens its doors at the Pavillon de l’Arsenal.

Set up around an exceptional scale model of 65m², the exhibition presents both the layout for its public spaces and its garden, inviting one to discover the extraordinary underground transportation network and the details of the Canopy. In this way, everyone can understand the specificities of this ambitious urban project that accounts for a major operation for Paris and its metropolis.

For the first time at the Pavillon de l’Arsenal and covering an area of more than 600m², this exhibition displays an architectural project just before its execution. The Canopy and the Transportation centre are presented “in their most detailed state of progress,” in other words, exactly as they should be built.

The visitor is invited to share the adventure of this construction through a hundred pictures, scale models, and videos created by Patrick Berger and Patrick Anziutti, architects of the Canopy. These documents describe the characteristics of this work of art. They explain not only the main principles that guided the architects into the final definition of the project but also the issues and the constructive details of this Canopy that “designates everything, from the largest volume of trees to the natural shelter that it gives to man, here, this architectural canopy… is, on the urban scale, a shelter against bad weather and against excessive heat…”

An animated film, produced by the City of Paris and the SempariSeine, will be shown for the benefit of the exhibition to guide the visitor to the heart of the project—this construction that goes more than 20 meters below the street level and of the Canopy whose translucent envelope, larger than a football field, is a true technical feat realized in the very centre of Paris.

* Patrick Berger

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
In order to allow everyone to understand, share, and learn more about this project, the Pavillon de l’Arsenal proposes:

GUIDED VISITS TO THE EXHIBITION
Free guided visits by students from the National Superior Institute of Architecture (École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture). Every Saturday.

Free registration online at www.pavillon-arsenal.com or by phone at 01 42 76 33 97

WALKS IN SITU
On Sunday, January 23rd, February 20th and March 6th 2010 from 2P – 6P
Registration fee (10 €) : inscriptions@promenades-urbaines.com

Created by.- Pavillon de l'Arsenal Exhibition.
Dates.- 9/12/2010 > 20/3/2011.
Scientific Curator.- PATRICK BERGER, architect.

Read less