The Georges Pompidou museum of Modern Art will reopen its doors to the public at 11 a .m on January 1st 2000 after 27 months of extensive renovation works. Victim of its success after recording 25,000 visits daily instead of a maximum 5,000 figure expected in 1977, the museum's structures had much suffered to such an extent that its closure was ordered for security reasons.
The impressive building has been redesigned by architect Renzo Piano over several levels, the ground floor housing an information desk, a library, a post office and even several animation and educational studios, including one reserved for children.
A shop selling modern design objects as well as a coffee-room have been installed on a mezzanine overlooking the ground floor while four exhibition rooms devoted to happenings, movies and conferences have been set in the basement.
The documentary library containing some 14 kilometres of shelves, now situated over two levels on the first and second floors, has been equipped with facilities for researchers while a special room has been installed on the second level for those who wish to prepare their exams, learn foreign languages or new multimedia techniques.
The museum also houses a press section where visitors will be able to read some 150 dailies and 250 magazines, French or foreign.
An audio-video auditorium offering 2200 movies, 10 000 musical CDs and 3500 recorded documents has been created on the third level while
the museum itself is now situated on the fourth and fifth levels with 4500 square metres of extra space.
There will also three special showrooms for temporary exhibitions with an agenda already filled until the year 2002. Visitors are now anxiously wetting their lips for some exciting upcoming events : Picasso sculptor, Brassaï, Jean Dubuffet and Max Beckmann.
Last but not least the Museum will have a restaurant, designed by Jakob and Brendane McFarlane, with a terrace offering a fabulous view overlooking its surroundings.
A.D
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