Musée du Louvre, Pei's Pyramids (Paris, France) : Spiral stair, close view of elevator at ground level with people about to exit

Creator:

Pei, I. M., 1917-

Published/Created:

Cour Napoléon, Musée du Louvre, Paris, Île-de-France, France
1989

Date Depicted:

9/1/1993
1950 AD - 2010 AD

Materials:

glass
granite
steel rods and cable

Notes:

Of all the Grands Projets in Paris, none created such a stir as the Pei Pyramids in the courtyard of the famous Louvre Museum. Spectacular in concept and form, they provide a startling reminder of the audacious ability of modern architects to invigorate and re-circulate traditional architectural forms...The main Pyramid is basically a complex inter-linked steel structure sheathed in reflective glass. In fact it is an entrance doorway providing a long-overdue entrance portico to the main galleries of the Louvre. As one descends into the interior entrance foyer, the dramatic nature of the intervention becomes apparent. The main Pyramid, which certainly disturbs the balance of the old Louvre courtyard, is countered by two smaller pyramids, which provide further light and ventilation to the subterranean spaces. p. 407

Variant Titles:

Pyramide du Louvre

Topics:

Architecture -- France -- 20th century -- (YVRC)

Period/Style:

Modern
Modernist

Culture:

French

Accession Number:

1A1-PI-PL-E4

Genre:

architecture (AAT)
exhibition buildings: art museums (AAT)

Format:

Image

Content Type:

Sculptures, Models, & Architecture

Rights:

Copyright Scott Gilchrist, Archivision, Inc
The use of this image may be subject to the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) or to site license or other rights management terms and conditions. The person using the image is liable for any infringement.

Access Restrictions:

Yale Community Only

Digital:

Pyramids construction architectural elements; roofs; pitched roofs; hip roofs; pyramidal roofs; building divisions; rooms and spaces; entrance spaces; lobbies stairs; interior; stair as feature; stair: circular

Source Creator:

Gilchrist, Scott

Source Title:

Archivision Base Collection

Source Created:

2878 Chamonix, Montreal QC
Archivision, Inc.
9/1/1993

Source Note:

Purchase, Visual Resources Collection, May, 2011; photographer Scott Gilchrist

Yale Collection:

Visual Resources Collection

Digital Collection:

Visual Resources Collection

Local Record Number:

4152

OID:

10091440

PID:

digcoll:1864016