Subcultural engagement for the 21st Century...
Barbelith is a new kind of community (find out more)...
You can login or register.

Underground > Art, Fashion & Design >

European cities, great art & design sites

12:37 / 12.03.06

We are off to Paris relatively soon. (And we have about a week in Provence, but ma belle-soeur lives there so we have a guide). We have only 4-5 days a Paris, so we'll mainly be hitting the high points, but what art & design sites do you recommend--even if they seem "obvious"--Louvre, etc.--what do you, personally, like about them?

I love modernist architecture that's playfully integrated in otherwise older neighborhoods (Berlin seemed full of architectural surprises), so do let me know if there are any specific, off-the-beaten track buildings that you think I should seek out.

13:12 / 12.03.06

Been a while since I was in Paris, alas, but my fondest memories are of the Centre Pompidou / Beaubourg and of the Musée d'Orsay.

The Pompidou Centre is a marvellous 70's building designed by Richard Rogers, Renzo Piano and Gianfranco Franchini to display modern art. Fabulous stuff in there, including some wonderful work by Klee, but the building itself is enchanting, I think.

The Musée d'Orsay houses a marvellous collection, focusing on the latter end of the 19th century. It's a historic building on a historic site and the museum was converted from the old Gare d'Orsay in the 80's. It's a great space.

Pei's Pyramid at the Louvre is a treat too. And the Grande Arche de la Défense is another brave architectural statement, particularly in its context.

Could go on for pages - there's so much to see and do in Paris. Vive la France! Lucky, lucky you! Time I took adavntage of the Chunnel again.

14:16 / 12.03.06

if you can get to the IMA i'd recommend it, not sure what exhibitions they've got on at the moment, but the building's worth seeing as it is.

The Parisien building's worth a look too, mainly because it's a big steel-faced thingso incongruous surrounded by all these brick and concrete apartment buildings...
(couldnt find a better link than this im afraid)
http://parisdailyphoto.blogspot.com/2005/04/located-124-rue-raumur-in-2nd.html

I'll try and think of some more in between bouts of jealousy!

15:35 / 12.03.06

The link to the Paris blog led me to the Fondation Cartier, which looks pretty interesting re: contemporary art. Has anyone here ever been?