In celebration of its 40th anniversary, the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain has announced the opening of a new landmark building on the historic Place du Palais-Royal in Paris, scheduled for late 2025.
Designed by renowned architect Jean Nouvel, this project marks a new chapter for the Fondation following its bold architectural statement on Boulevard Raspail in 1994. Once again, the Fondation positions itself as a key player in both the cultural and urban evolution of Paris, as well as the global contemporary art scene.
The new site is housed in a grand Haussmannian building, originally inaugurated as the Grand Hôtel du Louvre in 1855, part of Napoleon III’s redevelopment of the city. It later became the Grands Magasins du Louvre in 1863 and, in 1978, was transformed into the Louvre des Antiquaires. Nouvel’s design engages with this rich historical context, blending past and present.
The building’s facades, featuring expansive bay windows, open onto Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Rue de Rivoli, and Place du Palais-Royal, offering fresh urban vistas to both visitors and passersby. Spanning 8,500 square meters, the space includes 6,500 square meters of exhibition areas, with five mobile platforms covering 1,200 square meters. These platforms can adjust the layout and height of the space, creating vertical areas up to 11 meters high. Additionally, 1,200 square meters of walkways overlook these dynamic spaces, offering a unique visitor experience.
With this transformation, Nouvel has created a space of constant evolution, aligned with the Fondation Cartier’s mission to foster artistic experimentation and creative freedom.
