Images by idiggitt
One of the grand projects by President Francois Mitterand, this was won in competition by Dominique Perrault www.perraultarchitecte.com and opened in December 1996.
The city block scale building on the banks of the River Seine has a dramatic impact on the contours by basically using a plinth of timber to create an amphitheater of steps cascading down to level changes. To some this is ignoring the geography, but to others it is a dramatic gesture in the spirit of Mitterand's vision.
The towers are activated by a double skin consisting internal timber screens - the occupiers move these at will - unfortunately they even use them as storage cupboards - out of their view - but in full view of the public.
The descent down into the reading rooms takes the visitor into an densely planted wilderness - maybe a metaphor for the tree of knowledge - but anyway a calming environment for study.
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