5 of 5

Write now Article Tools

The Beaubourg area is an ultramodern cultural center visited by nine million people annually. The area includes a huge library of texts on figurative art, the Musee National d'Art Moderne, and the most popular destination George Pompidou.

The Stravinsky Fountains located near the Pompidou, and the Gothic Renaissance church, Eglise Saint-Merry is filled with moving structures making the Beaubourg area lively and fun. The 16 mechanical structures created in 1982 were inspired by Igor Stravinsky, and designed by Niki de Saint Phalle. This energetic and lively atmosphere can be felt the minute one enters Beauborg, where the areas charm and energy is combined with the mix of contemporary design and that of century-old buildings.

The George Pompidou is probably the biggest draw for visitors to Paris, attracting six million visitors a year. The inside-out or exo-skeletal design of the Georges Pompidou Center is located in the Beaubourg area of Paris. The idea behind the industrial construction of this museum was to bring art and culture to the street.

A cultural machine of pipes and tubes for water, intestinal escalators, lift cages, a see through hull, visual smoke and cables make the George Pompidou a modern art museum with a design for artistic inspiration. The Plexiglas escalators, and lift cages sit on the outside of the building to free up interior space. The ducts are color coded and attached to the building's west facade: blue is for air, green for fluids, yellow for electricity, red for movement and flow. The transparency allows people to see what is going on inside.

The Centre was named after the then President of France, George Pompidou. The exo-skeletal design initially caused controversy, because of the strong contrast of existing old world structures and residential homes near the Hotel de Ville. Museum construction began in 1971, and was completed in 1976 by architects Rogers and Piano.

The museum is home to 59,000 pieces of work featuring the leading collection of modern and contemporary art in Europe, a cinema and performance hall, educational activity, bookshop, cafe, a vast public reference library, and general information on 20th century art. The museum entertains 30 or more public exhibitions, international events, cinema screenings, and conferences throughout the year.

The outside front of the museum is better known for attracting musicians, mimes, jugglers, and a wide variety of street performer's. The museum has brought art to the man on the street by turning the street into a live cultural art festival. Beaubourg is alive and brimming with artistic inspiration both within the buildings and within the streets.

Learn more about this author, R.P. Bailey.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Museum reviews: The Centre Georges Pompidou (Beaubourg), Paris, France?
We want to hear your view. Write now!