https://www.architecturalrecord.com/rss/1650 en-us Designing a new interior for a building as prominent as Charles Garnier's historic opera house isn't for the faint-hearted.

]]> lopera-restaurant.asp Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/8276-l-opera-restaurant The ultimate 'pop-up,' L'Opera features a sweeping plaster-coated steel structure that wraps around and through the columns and vaults of the existing building without touching it. L'Opera RestaurantOdile Decq Benoit Cornette ArchitectsParis, FranceThe ultimate 'pop-up,' L'Opera features a sweeping plaster-coated steel structure that wraps around and through the columns and vaults of the existing building without touching it.Image courtesy Odile Decq Benoit Cornette Architects Enclosed by a glass facade, L'Opera Restaurant was inserted in the porte cochere of the Opera Garnier built by French architect Charles Garnier in 1875. L'Opera RestaurantOdile Decq Benoit Cornette ArchitectsParis, FranceEnclosed by a glass facade, L'Opera Restaurant was inserted in the porte cochere of the Opera Garnier built by French architect Charles Garnier in 1875.Image courtesy Odile Decq Benoit Cornette Architects L'Opera's glazed entrance reveals the sensuous curves of the dining mezzanine. L'Opera RestaurantOdile Decq Benoit Cornette ArchitectsParis, FranceL'Opera's glazed entrance reveals the sensuous curves of the dining mezzanine. Image courtesy Odile Decq Benoit Cornette Architects Tailored to the existing building, the undulating glass facade wends its way around the stone columns and soars to the curved ceiling. A steel band embedded in the new floor secures the wall's base. L'Opera RestaurantOdile Decq Benoit Cornette ArchitectsParis, FranceTailored to the existing building, the undulating glass facade wends its way around the stone columns and soars to the curved ceiling. A steel band embedded in the new floor secures the wall's base.Image courtesy Odile Decq Benoit Cornette Architects Tailored to the existing building, the undulating glass facade wends its way around the stone columns and soars to the curved ceiling. A steel band embedded in the new floor secures the wall's base. L'Opera RestaurantOdile Decq Benoit Cornette ArchitectsParis, FranceTailored to the existing building, the undulating glass facade wends its way around the stone columns and soars to the curved ceiling. A steel band embedded in the new floor secures the wall's base.Image courtesy Odile Decq Benoit Cornette Architects A rich red carpet links the two dining areas, spilling down the stairs and pooling on the ground floor, while trapezoidal tables align to form a single, snaking surface for flexible seating, banquette L'Opera RestaurantOdile Decq Benoit Cornette ArchitectsParis, FranceA rich red carpet links the two dining areas, spilling down the stairs and pooling on the ground floor, while trapezoidal tables align to form a single, snaking surface for flexible seating, banquettes, or buffets.Image courtesy Odile Decq Benoit Cornette Architects The facade's metal band is invisibly anchored to the column tops by stainless steel tie rods, but the wall is practically self-supporting because of its wavy profile. L'Opera RestaurantOdile Decq Benoit Cornette ArchitectsParis, FranceThe facade's metal band is invisibly anchored to the column tops by stainless steel tie rods, but the wall is practically self-supporting because of its wavy profile.Image courtesy Odile Decq Benoit Cornette Architects L'Opera Restaurant L'Opera RestaurantOdile Decq Benoit Cornette ArchitectsParis, FranceImage courtesy Odile Decq Benoit Cornette Architects L'Opera Restaurant L'Opera RestaurantOdile Decq Benoit Cornette ArchitectsParis, FranceImage courtesy Odile Decq Benoit Cornette Architects L'Opera Restaurant L'Opera RestaurantOdile Decq Benoit Cornette ArchitectsParis, FranceImage courtesy Odile Decq Benoit Cornette Architects For the hordes of tourists stuck in lines for the Colosseum or queuing up to enter the Sistine Chapel, Rome’s 2,000-year history acts as a powerful magnet.

]]> macro-museum.asp Sat, 16 Jul 2011 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/7510-museum-of-contemporary-art-of-rome-macro Decq and her team gutted the interior of an old Peroni brewery, cleaned up a pair of corner facades, and inserted their glass-and-steel structure within the existing fabric. Visitors enter the museum Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO )Odile Decq & Benoit Cornette Architectes UrbanistesRome, ItalyDecq and her team gutted the interior of an old Peroni brewery, cleaned up a pair of corner facades, and inserted their glass-and-steel structure within the existing fabric. Visitors enter the museum under the new raised glass box, through a small courtyard, and then into the grand atrium. Photo © Roland Halbe The architects created an artificial landscape on the museum's roof, placing a piazza there to connect the building to its historic context. The large skylight in the center of the piazza was designed Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO )Odile Decq & Benoit Cornette Architectes UrbanistesRome, ItalyThe architects created an artificial landscape on the museum's roof, placing a piazza there to connect the building to its historic context. The large skylight in the center of the piazza was designed to serve as a fountain with a sheet of water sliding over its surface, but it does not always work.Photo © Roland Halbe The architects created an artificial landscape on the museum's roof, placing a piazza there to connect the building to its historic context. The large skylight in the center of the piazza was designed Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO )Odile Decq & Benoit Cornette Architectes UrbanistesRome, ItalyThe architects created an artificial landscape on the museum's roof, placing a piazza there to connect the building to its historic context. The large skylight in the center of the piazza was designed to serve as a fountain with a sheet of water sliding over its surface, but it does not always work.Photo © Roland Halbe Decq's expansion adds 31,000 square feet of new exhibition space to the 16,000 square feet of galleries in the existing museum. Visitors enter the addition from Via Nizza, one level below the entrance Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO )Odile Decq & Benoit Cornette Architectes UrbanistesRome, ItalyDecq's expansion adds 31,000 square feet of new exhibition space to the 16,000 square feet of galleries in the existing museum. Visitors enter the addition from Via Nizza, one level below the entrance to the existing museum on Via Reggio Emilia. Decq fixed up, but did not radically alter, the entry hall to the existing museum. Photo © Roland Halbe A bright red faceted polygon houses an auditorium and serves as the vibrant heart of the 108,000-square-foot expansion of the museum. Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO )Odile Decq & Benoit Cornette Architectes UrbanistesRome, ItalyA bright red faceted polygon houses an auditorium and serves as the vibrant heart of the 108,000-square-foot expansion of the museum.Photo © Roland Halbe A suspended walkway zigzags through the main atrium, taking visitors on a journey that ends on the building's roof. Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO )Odile Decq & Benoit Cornette Architectes UrbanistesRome, ItalyA suspended walkway zigzags through the main atrium, taking visitors on a journey that ends on the building's roof.Photo © Roland Halbe Moving through and around the atrium on the suspended walkways is an important part of the visitor experience, with the auditorium serving as a bold orienting device. Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO )Odile Decq & Benoit Cornette Architectes UrbanistesRome, ItalyMoving through and around the atrium on the suspended walkways is an important part of the visitor experience, with the auditorium serving as a bold orienting device.Photo © Roland Halbe Inside the auditorium. Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO )Odile Decq & Benoit Cornette Architectes UrbanistesRome, ItalyInside the auditorium. Photo © Roland Halbe Translucent lavatories in the restrooms glow from within and can change color, making the simple act of washing one's hands a memorable experience. Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO )Odile Decq & Benoit Cornette Architectes UrbanistesRome, ItalyTranslucent lavatories in the restrooms glow from within and can change color, making the simple act of washing one's hands a memorable experience.Photo © Roland Halbe A caf' on the upper level offers views of the Via Nizza and Via Cagliari, the corner where people enter the museum addition. Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO )Odile Decq & Benoit Cornette Architectes UrbanistesRome, ItalyA café on the upper level offers views of the Via Nizza and Via Cagliari, the corner where people enter the museum addition.Photo © Roland Halbe A large space occupying the southeast corner of the addition serves as the main exhibition area for temporary shows and large pieces of art. Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO )Odile Decq & Benoit Cornette Architectes UrbanistesRome, ItalyA large space occupying the southeast corner of the addition serves as the main exhibition area for temporary shows and large pieces of art. Photo © Roland Halbe Galleries in the existing museum provide a neutral backdrop for a range of contemporary art. Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO )Odile Decq & Benoit Cornette Architectes UrbanistesRome, ItalyGalleries in the existing museum provide a neutral backdrop for a range of contemporary art.Photo © Roland Halbe The roof of the lacquered-wood auditorium structure serves as a small sculpture gallery with built-in seating along the perimeter. Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO )Odile Decq & Benoit Cornette Architectes UrbanistesRome, ItalyThe roof of the lacquered-wood auditorium structure serves as a small sculpture gallery with built-in seating along the perimeter.Photo © Roland Halbe Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO) Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO )Odile Decq & Benoit Cornette Architectes UrbanistesRome, ItalyImage courtesy ODBC Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO) Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO )Odile Decq & Benoit Cornette Architectes UrbanistesRome, ItalyImage courtesy ODBC Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO) Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO )Odile Decq & Benoit Cornette Architectes UrbanistesRome, ItalyImage courtesy ODBC Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO) Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO )Odile Decq & Benoit Cornette Architectes UrbanistesRome, ItalyImage courtesy ODBC