If you have already visited, or even only heard of Paris’ Grand Palais you may be wondering why and how it has suddenly become “ephemeral”. No need to panic: the Grand Palais isn’t going anywhere! However, it is being restored and whilst that is happening the events hosted in the Grand Palais will take place in its temporary counterpart instead, aka the “Grand Palais éphémère” which opened its doors in June 2021. The 10,000 m² structure is located on the Champ-de-Mars and is 20 metres high (so as not to hide the Ecole militaire) but those are the least impressive of its features.

The project was commandeered by Réunion des musées nationaux – Rmn (a cultural public body) and entrusted to the architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte and GL Events. It was conceived to be as eco-friendly as possible. The modular structure was assembled on the spot in less than three months (watch the trailer!) and can easily be disassembled and reassembled elsewhere, using the same or a different configuration. Its wooden skeleton is composed of 44 wooden arches made from 500 tons of wood sourced from a sustainably managed forest. The building is, furthermore, energy-efficient and sound-insulated.

The “Grand Palais éphémère” is set to host all sorts of events till the 2024 summer Olympics and should disappear shortly thereafter… But who knows… maybe it will have the same fate as the Eiffel Tower and stay put in the end? That would definitely be ironic seeing as they face each other!