Update 5 July 2010 -- Even though the Commission nationale des monuments historiques accepted the proposed modifications to the ancient Bibliothéque Nationale de France (BNF) last fall, the debate has not stopped there. The debate centers around the potential loss of a protected stair of honor, designed by Jean-Louis Pascal (architect BNF 1875-1912). There have been two news reports, indicating that the Minister of Culture himself, Frédéric Mitterand, is intervening: Le Monde, 3 March 2010 and Le Figaro, 21 April 2010. ICOMOS France is hosting a 2-day workshop on the proposed project and associated issues, 5-6 July 2010, in Paris.
Stair of Honor, view from the bottom.
Stair of Honor, from the bottom side.
Stair of Honor, view from the top.
2 November 2009 -- In the United States, when a proposed alteration to a significant historic monument is controversial and cannot be resolved at the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) level, the issue is taken to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. In France, when a proposed alteration to a historic monument is problematic, the proposed design is taken to the Commission nationale des monuments historiques, a group of approximately 20-25 people representing a wide range of disciplines: architecture, architectural history, archaeology, etc., as stipulated by the law.
About once a year a really problematic case comes before the Commission nationale des monuments historiques sur les travaux - and a site visit is required. Today I joined the Commission nationale on a special tour of the Bibliotheque Nationale, rue de Richelieu, in preparation for their meeting a week from today. A change in occupancy from the National Library of France to an Arts University Library precipated the proposed project. Access and circulation are the primary functional drivers for the proposed changes, which may alter facades to add entryways and may replace an interior grand stair to improve spatial connections. Unlike in the US, Commission Nationale meetings are not open to the public.
Reading Room designed by Henri Labrouste and completed in 1862.
Stair of Honor, view from the bottom.
Stair of Honor, from the bottom side.
Stair of Honor, view from the top.
2 November 2009 -- In the United States, when a proposed alteration to a significant historic monument is controversial and cannot be resolved at the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) level, the issue is taken to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. In France, when a proposed alteration to a historic monument is problematic, the proposed design is taken to the Commission nationale des monuments historiques, a group of approximately 20-25 people representing a wide range of disciplines: architecture, architectural history, archaeology, etc., as stipulated by the law.
About once a year a really problematic case comes before the Commission nationale des monuments historiques sur les travaux - and a site visit is required. Today I joined the Commission nationale on a special tour of the Bibliotheque Nationale, rue de Richelieu, in preparation for their meeting a week from today. A change in occupancy from the National Library of France to an Arts University Library precipated the proposed project. Access and circulation are the primary functional drivers for the proposed changes, which may alter facades to add entryways and may replace an interior grand stair to improve spatial connections. Unlike in the US, Commission Nationale meetings are not open to the public.
Reading Room designed by Henri Labrouste and completed in 1862.
