An English friend wanted to visit the castles of the Loire Valley. And I had not been for so long that I decided to drive her to three major places, very near each other, and an easy journey from Paris. You can even do it in one day if you like. So we started with Chambord, in grey weather and … Read More
Portzamparc is celebrated as an artist at Académie des Beaux Arts
The occasion was the award ceremony for Christian de Portzamparc‘s lifetime achievement, the Grand Prix d’architecture de l’Académie des Beaux Arts, and to celebrate the immense talent of the first French Pritzker Prize winner. An exhibition of his watercolors and models is open at Pavillon Comtesse de Caen until January 25. We knew what a fabulous architect he was, we … Read More
Musée Bourdelle is reopening with Philippe Cognée, what a good surprise!
Musée Bourdelle, which is devoted to the turn of the century sculptor Antoine Bourdelle (1861-1929), has been under renovation for two years and it is now reopening on March 15 with a new director, Ophélie Ferlier-Bouat, and an exhibition by contemporary painter and sculptor Philippe Cognée. In the new wing designed by Christian de Portzamparc, “Le catalogue de Bâle”, a thousand works designed … Read More
“Insurgé.es” in Saint Denis take us back to 1870…
Saint Denis is the suburb of Paris which is becoming the most modernized because of all the construction works made for the 2024 Olympic Games. A giant swimming pool is being built next to Stade de France. After being the place where all French kings were buried (in the basilica), the city has been a communist bastion for many years … Read More
In Luxembourg, famous architects reign among bankers
The town of Luxembourg houses 130 000 inhabitants and is mostly famous for its financial institutions (150 banks) and the seat of many European institutions located in the Kirchberg area. It is the capital a landlocked country, the Duchy of Luxembourg, close to the French town of Metz, and of Sarrebruck and Trier in Germany. On my recent trip there, … Read More
Another fabulous week in Paris!
Théâtre des Champs Elysées is the most cherished place by Parisians for concerts and operas at the moment. It is easily accessible, the theatre is a beauty opened in 1913, and the productions of extreme quality. This is where we can see Offenbach’s la Périchole at the moment and until November 28, in a production by Laurent Pelly with Marc Minkowski … Read More
Vincent Darré creates a stir with le Mobilier National at Les Gobelins
The only mistake with the new show at Mobilier National called “Le Chic, Decorative arts from 1930 to 1960” is its title which could deter anybody to go and visit. But so many friends told me it was a great exhibition that I went, after seeing the Art Deco show at Chaillot. And it was, in a way, a welcome … Read More
French American friendship is celebrated at Cité de l’Architecture
At Palais de Chaillot’s Cité de l’Architecture, a very specialized exhibition “Art Déco, France and Northern America” studies the architectural and artistic relationships between the 1890’s and 1930’s. It starts with Pierre Charles L’Enfant‘s plan for Washington D.C. commissioned by George Washington in 1891, and the tribute paid to “The adopted French architect” by an elegant table on baluster legs created … Read More