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Louvre Museum to Undergo Major Renovation, Creating New Entrance and Green Spaces
🇬🇷 Greece /Culture & Society

Louvre Museum to Undergo Major Renovation, Creating New Entrance and Green Spaces

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • The Louvre Museum in Paris is launching a major renovation project called "New Renaissance of the Louvre."
  • The ambitious plan aims to improve visitor flow and experience by creating a new entrance and revitalizing the eastern wing.
  • The project will transform historical moats into green spaces and create a dedicated area for the Mona Lisa.

Nearly four decades after the iconic glass pyramid reshaped its image, the Louvre Museum is embarking on a significant transformation. The "New Renaissance of the Louvre" project, set to be the most substantial architectural and functional intervention since 1989, aims to usher the world's most famous museum into a new era.

The French Ministry of Culture announced the winning consortium for the renovation of the museum's eastern wing: STUDIOS Architecture Paris, Selldorf Architects, and BASE Paysagiste. This team was selected from over a hundred proposals.

The need for this extensive overhaul is pressing. The Louvre attracts over nine million visitors annually, with the majority entering through the pyramid. This influx often leads to long queues, congestion, and a diminished visitor experience. In 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the necessity of a second major entrance to alleviate pressure on the main access and restore prominence to the palace's eastern facade.

New Renaissance of the Louvre

— Project NameThe name of the ambitious renovation plan for the Louvre Museum.

The new design will utilize the 17th-century Perrault Colonnade, designed by Claude Perrault for King Louis XIV. Visitors will enter from the square in front of the colonnade, descending via two large, symmetrical ramps into the palace's historic moats. From there, they will access new underground reception areas connected to the Seine and Rue de Rivoli.

A striking feature of the plan is the conversion of the old moats into green spaces, envisioned as "islands of coolness" within Paris, emphasizing climate adaptation. Stone surfaces will be replaced with plantings and shaded areas, while bookstores, cafes, and resting spots will be created beneath the new ramps. This philosophy extends beyond the entrance, aiming to make the Louvre a place where visitors can linger and enjoy the surroundings even before their museum tour begins.

The project also includes a dedicated, autonomous space for the Mona Lisa. Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece is the museum's most popular exhibit, but managing the crowds around it presents a significant challenge. Millions of visitors jostle daily before the painting, often unable to appreciate it fully. The new hall aims to provide a more conducive viewing environment.

islands of coolness

— ArchitectsDescribing the planned green spaces in the historical moats.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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