Cartier Foundation

On the Raspail Boulevard stands the hallmark work of the French magician Jean Nouvel. Here, primarily influenced by the readings of French philosopher Michel Foucault, he created a hallmark piece of conceptual high-tech from the 1990s. The phenomena of transparency, dematerialization, and the "Foucault shell" were abstracted by Nouvel into a material form, and he expressed his thoughts on architecture with a clear gesture.
An important catalyst in the creation of the building was the director of Cartier - Alain Dominique Perrin. He granted Nouvel maximum freedom, resulting in a high-quality outcome. On the site of the former owner, the American Center, there was a beautiful garden with a rare cedar planted by Chateaubriand. Nouvel nestled his light transparent building into the pleasant park, and the mutual contrast of vibrant nature and precise technology dominates the entire space.
Functionally, the building operates as a modern art exhibition space and the administration of the Cartier Foundation. Above all, the generous exhibition spaces on the ground floor enchant the heart of the architect. Unfortunately, the wonderful rooftop terrace is inaccessible to visitors. In the offices, the emphasis was placed on maximum transparency and the resulting dematerialization of matter, leading to minimalist interiors.
The main impression of the Cartier Foundation building is the architect's work with light, his grasp of it. The building changes at different times of the day, which I was able to observe very well during my stay in Paris, as I lived just a few steps from the Fondation Cartier. Vivat Nouvel!