Lacaton & Vassal Transform Palais de Tokyo into Flexible Art Space

Architects Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal were selected to install a contemporary creation site in the abandoned construction of the Palais du Cinéma at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris. They aimed to create a flexible, open space conducive to all sorts of new uses. The project was commissioned by the French Ministry of Culture with a temporary character and a limited budget of 20 million francs (excluding tax). Lacaton & Vassal chose to preserve the existing structure, emphasizing its raw and modern qualities, avoiding heavy demolition, and ensuring stability, accessibility, thermal comfort, and lighting. They drew inspiration from the Jemaa el-Fnaa square in Marrakech, envisioning a free, unassigned public space. The intervention was approached as an "inhabitable space" for artists and the public, in close collaboration with directors Nicolas Bourriaud and Jérôme Sans. The architects' philosophy rejects the "arte povera" label, focusing instead on efficiency, flexibility, and the use of simple, often industrial materials. Key earlier works include the Latapie House (1993), which demonstrated their approach of maximizing space on a tight budget. Lacaton & Vassal founded their agency in 1987 after studying at the Bordeaux School of Architecture and working in Niger and with architect Jacques Hondelatte.