At the end of the Champ de Mars, close to the Eiffel tower you can see this monument called Le mur de la paix (the peace wall). It was made by Clara Halter, the wife of famous writer/painter/philosopher Marek Halter and officially erected in 2000 (march 30 precisely). I love it but apparently some people (inhabitants of the neighbourhood) complain for it was originally meant to stay 4 months then be moved to other Paris neighbourhoods. They say it damages the view...
Since you brought up the topic of structures that are meant to be dismantled and/or relocated... It was thought that the Eiffel Tower would be dismantled after a twenty-year concession, which had been granded by the City of Paris to Gustave Eiffel to exploit the structure, would have expired. The Eiffel Tower, supposedly, owed its survival in part to the fact that, by the time the concession expired, it could be used for radio transmission...
ReplyDeleteI do like Le mur de la paix very much, and I do not think that it damages the view.
One structure that I still find mightily ugly, even after its 30 years or so of existence, is the Pompidou Center. It is a true eyesore in a very beautiful, historical neighborhood.
I dont agree with the last post.
ReplyDeleteI love Paris, and I especially love the Pompidou Center.
Paris is not a museum. Pompidou center is a giant masterpiece, a true feast for the eye, and enhances positively the historical neighbourhood, especially since it has been fully refurbished 2 years ago or so.
I do not want to live in a dead city like Venice, and I want my city to evolve with carefully thought modern buildings.
I hate monpartasse (but who likes it anyway ?) which definily is a complete failure on an architectural point ov view, but am definitly in favour of the erection of nice modern buildings, even owers - that brings a sort of modernism and dynamism to the city.
Agreed Elisabeth...You know, I always say the best view of Paris is from the top of the Pompidou Centre....because you can't see the Pompidou Centre when you are there!
ReplyDeleteGreat photo Eric.
that is so cool!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful idea. I hope that it always has a home somewhere in Paris.
ReplyDeleteWell, people at the time said the same thing abou the Eiffel Tower, that they loved beeing on top of it, as it is th only place in Paris where you can't see it... that is not a completely new idea.
ReplyDeleteBut people have changed their mind since.
Fred - Thanks for your reaction. I am not advocating that cities remain frozen in time. In fact, I think that some cities have managed to incorporate very successfully ultra modern architecture with historical neighborhoods, and Paris has done it quite successfully in some areas (I do like the Pyramide du Louvre, for example.) It is just the Pompidou Center that I do not find aesthically pleasing. When I was much younger (i.e., when it was first built), I used to think that it was cool. On my last trip to Paris this summer, I came to the conclusion (but it is my sole opinion) that it is a monstrosity.
ReplyDeleteBut don't you think the Pompidou Centre is just the inside out of a building? It doesn't even seem that unique to me whereas the Eiffel Tower is a feat of difficult construction, design, and usefulness. The Pompidou Centre reminds me of open ceiling classrooms of the 70's and not very original. Anyway, that's what art is all about!
ReplyDeleteMatter of taste - I really love it. What is beautiful is not always what seems nice at first glance anyway.
ReplyDeleteAnd as you say, that 's what all art is about. And I really do appreciate that contemporary projects do find their place in the city too, among the historical buildings. Definitly do not want the city to become juste an amount of old stones (nices stones though !).
fred> Not everybody in Paris share your enthousiasm for the Centre Georges Pompidou. It is often called "la raffinerie" (the refinery). But many new building have been controvertial in the past, including the Eiffel Tower.
ReplyDeleteJM-
It may be called "la raffinerie", and is it a problem ? Any thing wrong with industrial art or heritage ?
ReplyDeleteThere was some incredibly negative stuff written by numerous artists/writers against the Eiffel Tower at the time of its construction. Check it out on the Official Website of the Eiffel Tower! Gustave Eiffel defended his project very honorably, though.
ReplyDeletei kinda concur with fred.
ReplyDeletei think the centre pompidou is kinda ugly. but i also love it. i think it is unique and it brings a bit of spice in the area. especially in les halles - it's not like if they had built this centre avenue mozart...
besides, exhibits at this centre are usually of extremely good quality, and i am always impressed by their museography.
we have pompidou, they have the new tate. which one do you prefer ? pour moi, c'est vite vu...
Where did you find it? Interesting read » » »
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ReplyDelete