Page 44 - Studio International - September 1971

Les Halles 6 and 7 Maquette of
the proposed new
arts centre for Paris
Designed by Piano
and Rogers
Photo: J. A. Holmes

7

Plans prepared by the London architectural According to the plans, information would
partnership Piano, Rogers & Franchini for the be shown in three areas : within the building,
Plateau Beaubourg Centre in the redeveloped which would offer a number of large
Les Halles area of Paris include exhibition uninterrupted floor areas housing books, fine
space for the visual arts. The architects, whose arts, architecture, cinema, design, etc.; on two
plans have been accepted by the French façades, one of which, a three-dimensional
Government through open competition, load-bearing wall, would carry constantly-
describe their proposals as a 'live centre of changing information, news, artworks,
information', 'a cross between an information- television, electronic two-way games; and in a
orientated, computerized Times Square and large sunken square which would also have
the British Museum, with the stress on two-way facilities for such things as mobile exhibitions,
participation between people and activities/ and live theatre and music. q
exhibits'.
The basic idea is of an information centre
which presents information on the outside, as
well as on the inside, of the building, relays it
and is linked up to other centres throughout
the world.