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Fondation Cartier Opens Saturday in New Paris Home Facing the Louvre

Jean Nouvel’s redesign turns a 19th-century landmark into a modular museum geared to broaden audiences.

Overview

  • The Haussmannian former department store opposite the Louvre reopens after a years-long renovation, with the public opening on Saturday.
  • The interior, by Pritzker Prize winner Jean Nouvel, uses five movable steel platforms and exposed mechanical systems to reconfigure galleries.
  • The inaugural program, Exposition Générale, presents about 600 works by 100 international artists and is scheduled to run through August 2026.
  • The new central site provides roughly five times the floor area of the prior Left Bank home, a shift expected to draw more tourists and new visitors.
  • French media estimate renovation costs exceed €230 million, and admission is free for the first two days of opening.