Designed by Renzo Piano, Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation is an organic building inserted into a historical city block in Paris. The structure rises behind the 19th-century neoclassical façade that once belonged to Théâtre des Gobelins and slopes down to the courtyard space. This transparent “organic creature” functions as the foundation’s public access, offering natural light and a view of the interior garden.
Standing where the 19th-century Théâtre des Gobelins once stood, Pathé Foundation is one of the best examples of organic architecture.
The five-story building, covered by 7,000 protective shutters, displays a combination of wood and stale in the interior while featuring glasswork on the two upper floors. The main function of the structure is to preserve the historical heritage of the place which includes 10,000 films, a collection of silent movies, printed documents, archives dating back to the founding of Pathé in 1896, and a library of books. Moreover, a movie theater inside the foundation focuses on screening international silent films.
