In our series [From cities: Admiring the cities of the world], we bring you the latest local information on cities around the world, such as Paris, Milan, New York, etc., including notable addresses and real city snaps! For a while, we'll be sending you articles with the hope that in the near future, when we can travel abroad freely again, we'll be visiting those places.

In this 11th installment, we focus on the Bourse de Commerce, a contemporary art museum that opened in Paris, France at the end of May this year. We'll introduce you to the highlights, from an overview of the facility to the contents of its first exhibition. Check it out now.

What is Paris's new art spot, "Bourse de Commerce"?

On May 22, 2021, "Bourse de Commerce" opened in the Les Halles district, located between the Louvre and the Pompidou Centre.

In Paris, home to the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, a new art spot, "Bourse de Commerce," opened this year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its opening was postponed by about a year from its original schedule, so it goes without saying that art fans around the world were delighted when it finally opened.

This contemporary art museum was created by François Pinault, the founder of KERING, and exhibits selected works from his private collection of approximately 3,500 pieces (worth a staggering 1.25 billion euros...!) that he has been collecting since 1960.

The artistic space begins the moment you step inside.
18th-century architecture given new life by Tadao Ando

In addition to the artworks in the collection, the building itself is also attracting attention. The building, renovated by architect Tadao Ando in conjunction with the museum's opening, was originally used as a grain trading post in the 18th century. Prior to the museum's construction, the building had frequently been used as a venue for fashion exhibitions and events in recent years.


For the renovation, Ando kept the original 18th-century circular building intact and created a new concrete space inside. The circular design is said to represent "future," while the circle represents "hope."

In addition to 10 exhibition rooms, the building, now reborn as a museum, also houses an auditorium in the basement and Michel & Sébastien Bras' La Halle aux Grands restaurant on the top floor. In addition to the art exhibitions, you can also enjoy events and meals that will likely be held in the auditorium while experiencing this special space.

(*The restaurant's name comes from the fact that the building was used as a grain trading post in the 18th century.)

Tadao Ando teamed up with the French architectural firm NeM and others to construct this museum, which took three years, and has a total floor area of over 10,500 m2.
Incidentally, in addition to the Bourse de Commerce, François Pinault also owns art museums such as Palazzo Grassi and Punta della Dogana in Venice (the largest of the three is the Bourse de Commerce), and Tadao Ando designed the interiors of all of them. If you're interested, be sure to visit these two facilities.

>>[Next, check out the exhibits!]
13 Exhibitions to Mark the Opening of the Bourse de Commerce