French studio Chatillon Architectes has completed its restoration of the vast glass-roofed atrium at the Grand Palais, which will host fencing and taekwondo at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer.
It marks the end of the first phase of renovation work at the landmark structure, carried out by Chatillon Architectes in time for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The sporting event will be held in the revamped atrium, or nave, where swathes of glass and an expansive structure of over 6,000 tonnes of steel will serve as an intricate backdrop.
Chatillon Architectes has overhauled the Grand Palais in Paris
The Grand Palais has hosted many international exhibitions and events since it was constructed for the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1900. The overhaul by Chatillon Architectes is the first major restoration in the building's history. According to the studio, the main ambition for the project was to improve accessibility after it had become "a monument that was often only observed from afar".
"It's the opportunity to return a permanent public use to the building, to redevelop the surrounding grounds, to connect the building back with the city, and to adapt it for the Olympics and future generations," Chatillon Architectes founder Francois Chatillon told Dezeen.
It marks the end of the first phase of restoration
Chatillon Architectes also set out to preserve and celebrate as much of the original structure as possible, referencing the design by its architects ...