A magical historic monument that will host Olympic events this summer has 'extraordinary unknown spaces' that have been hidden away for decades. It seems a strange place to hold Olympic and Paralympic Games but a beautiful Art Nouveau masterpiece that looks like it could be in a Disney film will reopen its doors to do just that. The attraction has a long history of providing the space for many public exhibitions and events and in 1924 it was the venue where works from the Olympic arts and sports competitions were displayed.
At this time literature, painting, music, sculpture and architecture were on the Olympic programme in an attempt to preserve the spirit of the Games as they were held in ancient Greece . Although they are no longer included, the Grand Palais in Paris , is used to hosting sporting events such as riding and gymnastics and will be where fencing and taekwondo at the 2024 Games take place. The venue is opening its doors once more after being closed for a £392 million renovation for the past three years.
The huge building is some 75,000 square metres and was built in 1897 to house and host the French capital’s major artistic events. The main space, or nave, was constructed with an iron, steel and glass barrel-vaulted roof, inspired by London’s Crystal Palace. Transparent roofs and buildings were needed to provide light for large gatherings before the age of electricity.
Multi-disciplined studio Chatillon Architectes undertook the huge task of renovating the.