The Louvre Museum in Paris has announced the selection of a team of French and German architects for its expansion project, an ambitious plan estimated to cost between 700 million and 1 billion euros and which has caused widespread reactions in France.
According to the official announcement, the project aims to create a grand second entrance to the museum, with the aim of reducing overcrowding and increasing visitor capacity by about three million per year. It also envisages the construction of a new exclusive exhibition space for Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa", one of the most visited works in the world.
The firms STUDIOS Architecture Paris and Selldorf Architects were selected from a shortlist of five candidates. France's Minister of Culture, Catherine Pegar, described the design as "respectable and contemporary", stressing that it aims to create a new connection between the city, the palace and the museum.
A big project, but with controversy
The expansion of the Louvre is seen as a project of particular importance for French President Emmanuel Macron, but it has been accompanied by strong criticism regarding its high costs, the direction of the project and the political situation in the country ahead of next year's presidential elections.
The debate has also intensified after a series of incidents at the museum, including a high-profile robbery at the Apollo Gallery in October, where more than $100 million worth of jewelry was stolen. The incident highlighted serious security problems and led to the resignation of the institution's then-director, Laurence de Carr.
In addition to the robbery, the museum has also faced other incidents, including a water leak that damaged several hundred books in the Library of Egyptian Antiquities. According to the museum’s administration, the damaged materials have no irreparable cultural value and will be restored. Despite the challenges, the museum’s new directors have stated that the expansion project, known as “The Louvre – A New Renaissance,” will continue, aiming to modernize one of the world’s most visited museums.
