Pavillon de L’Arsenal
Location: France, Paris
Address: 21 Boulevard Morland, 75004, Paris
Building style: Neoclassicism
Website: pavillon-arsenal.com
The Parisian Pavillon de l’Arsenal is the center of architecture and urbanism. The museum building was built in 1878-1879 by order of the businessman Laurent-Louis Bornish. He made his fortune in the wood trade and was fond of painting. The building was intended for a public exhibition of his collection. The name of the pavilion comes from the nearby former monastery, which became an arsenal.
When Bornisch died, the building was sold and used as a warehouse, a restaurant, and later an atelier. In 1988, the building was turned into an architectural center. It houses an architectural archive and hosts exhibitions dedicated to Parisian urban planning.
The permanent exhibition titled ‘Paris, a city in the making’ focuses on Parisian architecture and urban planning. The additional space hosts exhibitions about the buildings of Paris, the life of the city in the era of Baron Haussmann, and yet unrealized urban projects.
The museum is also open for experimental projects. For example, in 2017, when Paris won the competition to host the 2024 Olympics, a 13-meter climbing wall was erected in the pavilion. It is made in the colors of the event’s identity and is designed to inspire visitors to go in for rock climbing – it has become an Olympic sport.