Christ & Gantenbein . photos: © Giaime Meloni
Paris Internationale, an art fair driven by a mindset of independence, collaboration, and partnerships, displays contemporary art at different locations each year. The fair leverages the abundantly available existing infrastructures to create a unique, environmentally conscious experience for a limited time. The strategy to occupy buildings in an in-between state is a strong commitment to address the problem of underutilization and mono-use of spaces within our cities.
Paris Internationale returns in 2023, hosting its 9th edition at the historic former telephone exchange of Poste Bergère-Trudaine on 15-17 Rue du F. Poissonnière. The main building with its long plateaux was designed by François Le Coeur in 1911: it is a monumental, infrastructural and industrial building with striking art-deco ornaments, such as an iron clock and gates crafted by sculptor Szabo. A post office and technical building with eight floors were subsequently added, respectively in 1919 and 1935, introducing further spatial richness to the venue. Lately, its entire interior finishings and infrastructure was removed, waiting for a renovation to come, revealing a bare, skeletal framework, as well as its potential.
For their second collaboration with Paris Internationale, Christ & Gantenbein have again embraced the uniqueness of the given venue. They created an exhibition design that accentuates the building’s typological features while focusing on permeability and connectivity. This year’s exceptional location features large plateaux with extensive glazing, double-height spaces under exposed concrete beams, and three internal courtyards flooded with light. It thus provides a given of very high-quality that allows the architectural intervention to be as minimal as possible. This strategy of economy of means is further pursued in the reuse of many elements from previous editions, together with the infrastructure found on site.
Christ & Gantenbein’s exhibition design interprets the building as an urban space, which fosters a sense of openness and exchange. Spreading across this former switching station’s vast expanse of 5000 m2, the 71 gallery spaces are complemented with open areas that encourage exploration, discovery, and community. Adopting once again a radical system that sets a clear framework and by introducing walls instead of boxes, the design challenges the encapsulation typical of art fair layouts. True to the identity of Paris Internationale, neon lights and simple walls with minimal finishes remain primary elements, delineating booths and showcasing artwork. The result, underpinned by a commitment to maintaining the building’s historical integrity while introducing modern elements that facilitate the display and appreciation of art, is a bold blend where the past dialogues with the present.
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LOCATION
Paris, France
CLIENT
Paris Internationale, France
YEAR
2023
STATUS
Built
PROGRAM
Culture, Exhibition
SIZE
5000 m²
TEAM
Emanuel Christ, Christoph Gantenbein, Victoria Easton; Alessandro Pasero, Giada Zuan, Jeffrey Deng, Marcela Lino
COLLABORATION
Ears & Eyes; We Are Ona
