The Louvre is to be rebuilt. The French Ministry of Culture has announced the results of an international architectural competition for the ‘Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance’ project. STUDIOS Architecture Paris and New York-based Selldorf Architects will be responsible for the new look of Paris’s most famous museum. The project represents the institution’s largest modernisation since the construction of Ieoh Ming Pei’s glass pyramid almost 40 years ago.
The Louvre is to be rebuilt
The “Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance” programme was launched in early 2025 on the initiative of the President of France. The impetus was simple: the museum needs a thorough modernisation, new spaces for visitors and better visitor flow management. At the heart of the changes is the Grande Colonnade, the famous façade with a row of columns, built between 1667 and 1674 to a design by Claude Perrault. The museum’s striking façade is today regarded as a jewel of French classicism. It is here that the new main entrance to the institution will be located, designed to relieve pressure on the crowded area around Pei’s pyramid and improve the flow of millions of visitors each year.
The return of Paris’s historic axis
The design by STUDIOS Architecture Paris and Selldorf Architects centres on the historic east-west axis, running from the Cour Carrée through the pyramid to the Arc de Triomphe and the business district of La Défense. The architects aim to restore the clarity of this perspective and highlight the colonnade of the façade. The moats surrounding the museum will feature green spaces and new paths and walkways leading up gentle ramps concealed within the thickness of the stone walls. Restaurants, bookshops and rest areas will be accessible from the level of the moats. The project’s designers place strong emphasis on the relationship between stone and vegetation, which is intended to improve thermal comfort for visitors during Parisian heatwaves.
The Louvre is to be rebuilt: a new space for the Mona Lisa
Another key part of the project will be two new underground entrances located on either side of the moat, from the Seine and the Rue de Rivoli. New access routes will lead visitors directly to the exhibition areas and the space dedicated to the Louvre’s most famous treasure, the Mona Lisa. The museum will also gain a modular temporary exhibition hall of a high technical standard. The Louvre’s management has announced improved visitor conditions, clearer route signage and a more intuitive layout for the entire complex.
The start of a long-term modernisation project
Following the selection of the winning design, museum director Catherine Pégard announced a consultation phase involving Louvre staff, the Paris authorities, government departments and local residents. The redevelopment is set to transform the way the institution operates, having struggled with infrastructure overload for decades. This time, however, it is about more than just a new architectural landmark. The priority has become the daily experience of visitors, better working conditions for staff and the reclamation of previously unused space around the historic Grande Colonnade.
Design: STUDIOS Architecture Paris & Selldorf Architects
Source: French Ministry of Culture
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