The restoration of the prestigious Palais d’Iéna in Paris, which for five years has provided the backdrop to Miu Miu’s fashion shows and the venue for various Fondazione Prada artistic and cultural events, is now complete. The work, funded by the Prada Group and started in January 2015, was carried out in two phases: the conservation of the Rotonde, the building’s distinctive architectural feature, followed by the securing of the Iéna Wing.
Throughout the Rotonde’s restoration the scaffolding was completely covered by an enormous 720 m² and 600 kg canvas, created by the New York-based studio 2×4. This provided the city with an unusual visual experience, and the subsequent auctioning of the panels raised money for the Gustave Roussy Foundation, a charity that supports medical research.
The Palais d’Iéna, designed by architect Auguste Perret, known as the ‘poet of reinforced concrete’, is considered a landmark building in modern architecture.
The simplicity of the structure innovatively combines classical and academic principles with modern materials. It has been home to the Conseil Économique, Social et Environnemental (Economic, Social and Environmental Council, ESEC) since 1959, considered the third constitutional assembly of the French Republic.
Palais d’Iéna restoration complete
