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Southern façade is made up of two hundred and forty square metal grids to filter the light. Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France.
AKTC

Southern façade is made up of Exterior view of the Insitute from Exterior view of the curved form Institut du Monde Arabe, Pa
two hundred and forty square the right bank of the River Seine, of the north wing and the France.
metal grids to filter the light. … Institut du Monde … rectangular form of the south … AKTC
AKTC AKTC AKTC

INSTITUT DU MONDE ARABE

Award Cycle: 1987-1989 Cycle

Status: Award Recipient
Country of origin: France
Location: Paris, France
Client: Institut du Monde Arabe
Architect: Jean Nouvel, Pierre Soria and Gilbert Lezénés, with the Architecture Studio
Size: 13'000 m ²
Completed: 1987

This center of Arab culture occupies a beautiful site on the left bank of the Seine, facing the Ile St-Louis from the riverside
edge of the University of Paris.The building consists of a museum, a library, an auditorium, offices and meeting rooms
assembled within two wings separated by a courtyard opening out toward the Cathedral of Notre-Dame. The translucent
marble façade of the seven-storey northern wing is elegantly curved to follow the sweep of the quay. At the west end of
this wing is the 100'000 volume library, a spiral tower of books behind a transparent wall of glass offering panoramic views.
The principal facade of the eleven-storey southern wing consists of 113 photosensitive panels that operate like a camera's
diaphragm opening and closing to control the intensity of light in the interior. The jury, while acknowledging that the
building is not successful in all aspects of its design and at times overly complex to use with ease and comfort," found much
to commend in its role as "a successful bridge between French and Arab cultures.

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