Get ready for an exciting chapter in the history of the Louvre, as five visionary teams step forward to reshape the world's most visited museum!
Unveiling the Louvre's Future
The French Ministry of Culture has just announced the five finalists for the Louvre - Nouvelle Renaissance project, an ambitious endeavor to transform this iconic museum. With over a hundred submissions from around the globe, the competition has been fierce, but these teams have risen to the top.
A Star-Studded Lineup
The jury, consisting of twenty-one esteemed members, has selected the following teams to compete for the honor of reimagining the Louvre:
- Amanda Levete Architects (AL_A) with NC Nathalie Crinière and others
- Architecture Studio, partnering with Diller Scofidio + Renfro and more
- Dubuisson Architecture, collaborating with SANAA and Dan Pearson Studio
- Sou Fujimoto Ateliers Paris, alongside Sou Fujimoto Architects and Ducks Scéno
- STUDIOS Architecture, joined by Selldorf Architects and BASE
Nouvelle Renaissance: A New Visitor Experience
This project, announced by Emmanuel Macron in 2025, is a massive undertaking, encompassing science, culture, architecture, and environmental considerations. The goal? To renew the museum's infrastructure and create new spaces, redefining the visitor experience at the Louvre.
The first phase, Louvre - Grande Colonnade, focuses on creating new public entrances in the palace's eastern section, restoring Louis XIV's original vision for the facade. These entrances will ease congestion at the iconic glass pyramid and offer a more welcoming and inclusive experience. Beneath the Cour Carrée, an underground expansion will add a new museum wing, including a dedicated gallery for the Mona Lisa, aiming to redistribute visitor flow and recontextualize this masterpiece.
A grand exhibition hall will also be constructed, allowing the Louvre to host larger and more diverse temporary exhibitions, solidifying its status as a contemporary cultural hub. The project aims to reconnect the museum with its urban surroundings, from the Grande Colonnade's moats to the Place du Louvre's facades.
Preserving Heritage, Embracing the Future
The second component, Louvre Demain, presents a long-term plan to renovate the museum's infrastructures and technical systems, ensuring sustainability and accessibility for the 21st century. Architectural interventions will be overseen by François Chatillon, Chief Architect of Historical Monuments.
Louvre - Nouvelle Renaissance seeks to strike a balance between the museum's historic grandeur and contemporary needs, building upon the legacy of the Grand Louvre project of the 1980s and 1990s. This initiative aims to complete that vision, uniting the palace's classical architecture with the vibrant city that surrounds it.
And Here's Where It Gets Controversial...
With such a prestigious project, opinions are bound to vary. Which team's vision do you think will best capture the essence of the Louvre's past while embracing its future? Share your thoughts in the comments! The world is watching as these architectural giants compete to leave their mark on history.
