Tag Archives: architecture

A puzzling fresco – the Tangram Building, Paris

A puzzling fresco – the Tangram Building, Paris. The Tangram Building in Paris is a building with a large, coloured fresco in enamelled glass, in the design of a tangram. A tangram is a puzzle consisting of flat polygons, called tans, which are constructed to form shapes. The tans are used to create minimalist designs that are: ‘eitherContinue reading “A puzzling fresco – the Tangram Building, Paris”

Richard Rogers, Paris Pompidou Centre and his mother’s clay pots

Richard Rogers, Paris Pompidou Centre and his mother’s white pots. Italian-born British architect Richard Rogers, designer of the Pompidou Centre in Paris, died in London at the age of 88 on 18 December 2021. Although he worked on many prominent buildings, such as London’s Millennium Dome and Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, he is best knownContinue reading “Richard Rogers, Paris Pompidou Centre and his mother’s clay pots”

Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.  In the Victor Hugo museum is an exhibition, from 10 June to 21 November 2021, called Dans L’Intimité du Genie – In the Intimacy of Genius – with Hugo’s paintings, drawings, engravings, and artwork. Hence, it’s time to re-read Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (1831) is set inContinue reading “Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre-Dame”

French architects Lacaton & Vassal – thoughtful and respectful approach to apartment living

French architects Lacaton & Vassal – thoughtful and respectful approach to apartment living. In April 2021, French architects Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal were announced the winners of the prestigious 2021 Pritzker Prize, called the Nobel of Architecture. Together, Lacaton and Vassal design low-impact homes and public buildings based upon natural ecological responses to current livingContinue reading “French architects Lacaton & Vassal – thoughtful and respectful approach to apartment living”

The Paris Opera House – now no opera, just ballet

The Paris Opera House – now no opera, just ballet. The Paris Opera House is called the Palais Garnier. It is located at the Place de l’Opéra in the 9th arrondissement. Built from 1861 to 1975 during the reign of Napoleon III, it was first called le nouvel Opéra de Paris – the new Paris Opera. NowContinue reading “The Paris Opera House – now no opera, just ballet”

Félix Potin building in Paris: renovated and revealed

Félix Potin building in Paris: renovated and revealed. In October 2013, the Félix Potin turret was under wraps. Today the Félix Potin building has been renovated and revealed.  The Félix Potin building is on the rue de Rennes in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. Rue de Rennes was originally designed to connect the Gare Montparnasse (theContinue reading “Félix Potin building in Paris: renovated and revealed”

Parisian architecture: ‘castles in the air’

Parisian architecture: ‘castles in the air.’  In May 2015, the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, wrote an article in Politico stating that the French capital has become a testing ground for new technologies. She headlined the article, in English, ‘Parisian castles in the air.’ It is an interesting headline. France is famous for its castles –Continue reading “Parisian architecture: ‘castles in the air’”