Closing on September 22
Reopening Planned for 2030
The Centre Pompidou in Paris, France, will close its doors for five years starting September 22, 2025 (local time), to undergo major renovations costing 460 million euros (approximately 750 billion won).
According to AFP on September 21, the renovation project aims to reopen in 2030. The purpose of the work is to address aging issues caused by water leaks and poor maintenance, as well as to improve inconveniences such as long waiting lines.
The project will include asbestos removal, improved accessibility, enhanced security, and a complete redesign of the interior. Additionally, new waterproofing work is planned to reduce energy costs by 40 percent. The seventh floor of the building will feature a new large public terrace offering panoramic views of Paris.
750 Billion Won Renovation
Of the total renovation cost, 280 million euros (about 457 billion won) will be covered by the French government. In addition, Saudi Arabia has donated 50 million euros (about 80 billion won). Centre director Laurent Le Bon stated, "We have already secured 100 million euros (about 160 billion won), and we hope to raise the remaining 80 million euros (about 130 billion won) over the next five years."
The Centre Pompidou is named after Georges Pompidou, the former president who passed away in office in 1974. The building was designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano and British architect Richard Rogers, and opened in 1977. At the time of its opening, the building's exterior was criticized for being drastically different from Paris's traditional architecture, as its pipes, ventilation ducts, electrical cables, and staircases were all exposed on the outside-a radical design for its era. However, with around seven million visitors in its first year alone, the Centre Pompidou quickly established itself as a world-renowned multidisciplinary cultural space beyond France.
Director Le Bon said, "We will preserve the external framework, but everything from the basement to the top floor will be changed," adding, "I hope visitors will feel at least a fraction of the shock experienced when the center first opened in 1977."
The permanent exhibitions were already dismantled in March, including paintings by Francis Bacon and Frida Kahlo and sculptures by Marcel Duchamp. Temporary exhibitions continued, but the center will temporarily close after the final retrospective of German artist Wolfgang Tillmans on September 22. On its last day, the Centre Pompidou will offer free admission until 11 p.m., and from October 22 to 25, music and art performances will be held to celebrate Paris Contemporary Art Week.
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