Louvre Museum (French: Musée de Louvre) is an art museum located in Paris, France, and is one of the most famous museums in the world. It houses numerous classic artworks, including the “Mona Lisa,” “Venus de Milo,” “Portrait of a Scribe,” “Winged Victory of Samothrace,” and the “Code of Hammurabi,” making it the most visited art museum globally.
Recently, French President @emmanuelmacron announced a significant renovation project for the Louvre, titled the “New Renaissance of the Louvre,” which will include expanding the underground exhibition areas and constructing a new large entrance. This initiative aims to alleviate the pressure from the doubling number of visitors and enhance the overall viewing experience, including a dedicated exhibition hall for the iconic painting, the “Mona Lisa” (Gioconda, Monna Lisa), thereby initiating a plan to relocate famous artworks!
In fact, the last renovation of the Louvre took place in the 1980s. After the museum was converted for use as a museum and office space for the Ministry of Finance, many aspects of the historic building’s design failed to meet modern functional requirements. There were also many significant issues, such as the narrow museum entrance and the lobby being overwhelmed by large numbers of visitors daily. Consequently, the renowned Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei was invited to design a renovation plan. When the iconic glass pyramid designed by I.M. Pei was completed, it was estimated that the museum could accommodate around 4 million visitors annually, optimizing both the entrance and exit of the museum while meeting and adapting to public demand.
However, until last year, nearly 9 million visitors entered, and the museum is increasingly aging. The director of the Louvre Museum, Jean-Luc Martinez, has even reported issues such as leaks and temperature control to the Minister of Culture, which may affect the preservation conditions of the collections, indicating that it is overwhelmed.
At the dawn of the Louvre’s future, the official platform has also released a visual video outlining the historic project for the museum’s modernization and transformation. Clearly, the goal of this undertaking is well-defined; in addition to enhancing visitor comfort, it will also rethink the viewing pathways within the museum to better manage the flow of traffic, making the experience more enjoyable for guests. Coupled with modern technology, the project aims to restore wear and tear on the building, bringing forth a better Louvre for everyone.
The “Mona Lisa” will bid farewell to her home at the Louvre for over 500 years,
enjoying the prestigious treatment of an independent exhibition hall!
Every day, faced with thousands of tourists drawn to her, this lady, who always carries a mysterious smile, seems to need a more tranquil exhibition space.
The establishment of a separate exhibition area for the masterpiece “Mona Lisa’s Smile” not only allows the painting to greet visitors in a more elegant manner but also alleviates the current issue of overcrowding at peak times. According to statistics from the French government, approximately twenty thousand visitors each day come solely to glimpse “Mona Lisa’s Smile”; however, even in front of this famous painting, it is nearly impossible to fully appreciate it in the throngs of people, with each visitor averaging only fifty seconds before having to say goodbye.
The renovation project is set to last 6 years, with an expected completion in 2031, and the estimated cost is approximately 800 million euros. At that time, visitors wishing to see the “Mona Lisa” will need to purchase additional special tickets. However, with a dedicated new home for the “Mona Lisa,” it will allow more people to truly appreciate the charm of this artistic treasure. Furthermore, this renovation is also anticipated to expand the museum, allowing for an annual visitor count of 12 million.
Source @museelouvre
