Philharmonie de Paris France
Philharmonie de Paris, France - Architect: Jean Nouvel
The Philharmonie de Paris encompasses the new building designed by Jean Nouvel and the current Cité de la musique. Operating as a whole, this major music complex will have the resources to combine all approaches to music – helping update the offering of artistic, educational and cultural events for today’s audiences, both locally and nationwide. The Cité de la musique will remain in its current building, designed by Christian de Portzamparc, but as an institution will undergo fundamental changes. As from January 2015, it will no longer be known as the Cité de la musique, ultimately being dissolved in its current form in order to be reborn as an integral part of the Philharmonie de Paris.
Concretely, once the project is complete, the Philharmonie de Paris will operate between two buildings:
• “Philharmonie 1”, the new building designed by Jean Nouvel, opened in January 2015, and
• “Philharmonie 2”, the building that has housed the Cité de la musique for the past twenty years.
The artistic pillars of this new philharmonic framework are the Orchestre de Paris (the resident orchestra), the Ensemble Intercontemporain (the resident ensemble), and three associate ensembles – the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, the Orchestre National d’Île-de-France and Les Arts Florissants.
With the Philharmonie de Paris, Jean Nouvel has delivered innovative architecture that fits gracefully into its setting within the Parc de la Villette – at the edge of Paris proper and at the heart of a fast-growing metropolitan area. The Philharmonie de Paris is a truly innovative facility, and in more ways than one. First, from a strictly architectural perspective, the edifice created by Jean Nouvel is like nothing else in the urban landscape. The mineral building that rises up within the Parc de la Villette is not unlike a mountain, complete with a roof that visitors can walk on! In its dimensions as well as its materials (cast aluminium and shiny stainless steel facades), it wears it modernity proudly. Its location in northeast Paris makes a bold statement as well. The proximity to the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse, the Zénith and the Grande Halle make La Villette into something of a ‘music quarter’. Moreover, the connection to the city’s outskirts and suburbs encourages new audiences, from different generations and social backgrounds, to attend concerts. One of the project’s inspirers, the composer Pierre Boulez, could not have said it better when he called the Philharmonie ‘the Centre Pompidou of music’.
Standing 52 metres high, the Philharmonie is an unmissable landmark in northeast Paris. The screen-wall that towers over the building creates a luminous ambiance, also serving as a spectacular announcement board for upcoming programmes and concerts – a stunning display that calls the public (of all ages and interests) to venture inside the various spaces. The Philharmonie is also a beacon within the Parc de la Villette. But rather than attempting to dominate the site, the building fits naturally into the urban and architectural context, establishing a dialogue with the other architects who have left their mark there (Christian de Portzamparc who designed the Cité de la musique and the Conservatoire, and Bernard Tschumi with his famous ‘Folies’). Putting on exceptional concerts is only one aspect of the Philharmonie de Paris. With its rehearsal rooms, educational centre, exhibition space, restaurants and convivial setting within the Parc de la Villette, it has been designed as a true 'living space'. Bringing the public a fresh take on music requires not only rethinking the conventional concert system, but also encouraging musical practice and discovery. In this respect, the Philharmonie de Paris has an invaluable resource: twenty years of experience in educational programming. Since its creation in 1995, this is exactly what the Cité de la musique has done, organising activities for all segments of the population, with an emphasis on diversity in the perspectives explored, incorporating non-European cultures and popular forms. The Orchestre de Paris and the Ensemble intercontemporain have also developed a number of initiatives, such as concerts and shows for school groups and families. Drawing on this know-how and that of the associate ensembles, the Philharmonie is equipped to reach out to all music lovers, in the broadest sense of the term. Not stopping at the magic of music, the Philharmonie has been designed as a true ‘living space’ where artists and audiences would intermingle. Jean Nouvel has artfully laid out all of the annexes. Spectators can choose between a garden-level café, a sixth-floor restaurant with panoramic views, and the bars at various points around the concert hall. They can also stroll through the foyers encircling the main auditorium.