Centre Pompidou Turns 40: A Revolutionary Museum in the Heart of Paris

In 1956, Pierre Sudreau launched a campaign for the reconquest of Paris, targeting insalubrious areas. The most central, îlot insalubre n. 1 near the Louvre and Notre Dame, was demolished starting in the late 1930s, leaving the plateau Beaubourg as a parking lot. In May 1972, construction began on the Centre Pompidou, designed by Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers, and Gianfranco Franchini, who won the international competition in July 1971. The museum revolutionized traditional museum spaces with open, flexible platforms and exposed colorful pipes and structural elements on its facades. It sits between the gentrified Marais and the chaotic Les Halles hub, serving as a midpoint. Its esplanade is a vibrant public space. In 2017, the Centre Pompidou celebrated its 40th anniversary with a program involving over 40 French cities and 75 partner institutions.