Ten years after its inauguration, in January 2014, it is difficult to imagine Paris without its Philharmonie. With its modular room of 2,400 to 3,400 seats, its 450 curtain raisers per year and its average occupancy rate of 92%, the auditorium designed by Jean Nouvel has established itself in the musical landscape of the capital. Even replacing the Salle Pleyel in the 8th arrondissement, now devoted to musical styles other than classical.
However, the construction of this emblematic building in eastern Paris was not a smooth ride. At the end of the 1970s, the La Villette site was abandoned. With the creation of Rungis, the livestock market in the 19th arrondissement closed. The authorities then decided to convert this industrial wasteland into a large urban park. Among the guidelines of the future project is already the construction of an auditorium dedicated to music and dance.
The creation of this Cité de la musique is entrusted to Christian de Portzamparc. The architect drew up plans for a chamber music hall with 800 seats, and those for a large auditorium dedicated to symphonic music. Ultimately, only the first saw the light of day in 1995.
The second project was buried for many years, to the great dismay of its defenders. In 2006, an agreement was reached between the City of Paris and the State. To restart the construction of this auditorium, the town hall is providing a two-hectare parking lot.
The project was awarded to architect Jean Nouvel the following year. Paris already owes him the Arab World Institute, the Cartier Foundation and the Quai-Branly-Jacques-Chirac Museum. His auditorium project, described by some “anti-Salle Pleyel” with its orchestra located in the middle of the audience, was able to convince the jury.
Construction interrupted in 2010
The building permit was issued immediately, and the end date for the work was set in 2012. But, while everything finally seemed to be going well for the future Philharmonie, the sky darkened again in 2010. The work stopped. for almost a year, leaving a large gaping hole in place of the old parking lot. In question? The State, which does not pay its share.
However, the government had committed, like Paris City Hall, to financing 45% of the project. But the sharp increase in the budget has cooled it. Initially estimated at 173 million euros, the construction of the “Centre Pompidou de la musique” ultimately cost more than 500 million euros, according to estimates from the Court of Auditors.
Despite its reluctance, the State finally paid the necessary sums to continue the project, and the auditorium was inaugurated on January 14, 2014, two years late.
The budgetary slippage, however, fueled a long legal conflict between the Philharmonie and Jean Nouvel, who was ousted from the project before the work was completed. A settlement agreement was finally reached in 2021.
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