In a city that so effortlessly wears its architectural heritage on its sleeve, few landmarks rival the gravitas and timelessness of the Grand Palais. A Beaux-Arts marvel of glass, steel and stone, first unveiled in 1900, the monument was never one to whisper its architectural leanings. But over the decades, its voice grew muffled—partitioned, fragmented, neglected and even inaccessible. Now, following a four-year transformation project helmed by Chatillon Architectes, an urban planning, architecture and interior architecture firm specialising in transforming built environments, the Grand Palais speaks once more, with "restored spatial clarity and architectural legibility".

The Paris-based studio didn’t so much redesign the Grand Palais—originally built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition—as reintroduce it; less of a facelift, more of a meticulous unearthing, removing the clutter of time. The project peeled back layers of interventions and compromises, guided by over 3,000 archival plans and drawings, to restore the 120-year-old structure’s original logic, recalibrating it for a contemporary audience. “Following the unveiling of the site’s restored Nave for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the French firm has renewed and reimagined the entire[…]structure to enhance the building’s composition, opening up the space and expanding the visitor experience with exhibition galleries, restaurants and allowing full public access like never before,” the project’s official release explains.

“The Grand Palais is a powerful symbol of France’s cultural legacy – iconic and instantly recognisable, yet so much of its beauty has been hidden for decades”, says Francois Chatillon, founder of Chatillon Architectes. “We didn’t set out to reinvent it, but through a process of revelation, we wanted to uncover its identity. This renovation was about bringing it back to life, staying true to its spirit while opening it up for the future and giving the monument back to the people.”

At 77,000 sqm, the newly reopened Grand Palais’ renovation was no small undertaking. “Each element was considered as part of a larger narrative, drawing on the Grand Palais’ architectural past to unlock spaces for the future,” they continue. Originally conceived by architects Henri Deglane, Albert Louvet and Albert Thomas (and orchestrated by Charles Girault), the heritage building was a display case for French architectural and engineering prowess at the turn of the 20th century. However, over time, through war, wear and the well-meaning renovations of the 1960s, the building’s coherence had eroded, becoming a victim of time and circumstance. It suffered from safety concerns, outdated infrastructure, poor visibility and under-equipped logistical capacity.

The latest intervention thus focuses on clarity. The original central axis, once obscured, now slices boldly through the building, allowing uninterrupted movement from the Seine to Square Jean Perrin. The creation of a new ‘place centrale’ restores a sense of legibility, transforming once-convoluted circulation into a welcoming public artery. Over 40 new lifts, 30 staircases and a rationalised layout make the building fully accessible.

Restoring original sightlines and circulation, once interrupted, was a central goal of the firm’s intervention. The partition wall, that for nearly a century separated the Nave from the Palais de la Découverte, is now gone. In its place is an unbroken vista, not seen since 1937. Elsewhere, spatial generosity has been reinstated. Rooms previously divided or obscured have been restored to their original volumes, lined with finishes that now shimmer under newly integrated lighting schemes.

Chatillon Architectes’ interventions for the Parisian classic are notable for their dual fidelity: to heritage, yes, but also to the possibilities of the present and of course, the future. This is apparent in the historical architecture’s layering of experience. Visitors can now pause at Le Réséda Café, perched on a new mezzanine, or indulge at Le Grand Café, a brasserie overlooking the Champs-Élysées gardens, designed by Joseph Dirand and operated by Loulou. Both add a dash of Parisian allure to the monumental grandeur of the now-renovated structure. “The Place Centrale, the Rotonde d’Antin and the Salon Seine have been combined and provide a cohesive and open-plan layout, creating a central area that is now free to explore, increasing the overall public access to the building by 140 per cent,” the release mentions.

“We strive to revitalise historic landmarks, such as the Grand Palais, as both emblematic monuments and vibrant cultural spaces,” says Simon Chatillon, partner, Chatillon Architectes. “We approach cultural projects with a strong sense of place, developing thoughtful and innovative interventions that bring renewed energy and help define their future."

The Grand Palais is also, crucially, a working building. To prepare for the temporary relocation of the Centre Pompidou’s collections during its renovation, several galleries were modernised for flexible programming, including being equipped with integrated lighting and climate controls. And yet, even as the tech specs rose, the building’s soul remained intact. In total, 150 colossal windows, over 1,000 ornaments, statues and reliefs were restored by hand, apart from the creation of new doors, some reaching six metres high, all ‘treated with meticulous care’.

And then there is the site's iconic garden. The building’s restoration extended beyond its roofline to embrace biodiversity with over 60,000 plants (drawn from 250 species) planted around it and watered by rain harvested from the roof’s refurbished gutters. A new pedestrian promenade replaces a former road, reconnecting the monument with the gardens of the Champs-Élysées.

Which brings us to the heart of this transformation: reintegration. This is not a museum sealed in amber. It’s a porous, civic organism, one that invites the city back in. It reframes the Grand Palais as both an architectural relic and a refreshed, civic institution, an emblem of Paris and a place for Parisians. As the official release affirms, “By enhancing accessibility, natural light and the building’s inherent architectural beauty through careful and innovative interventions, Chatillon Architectes has established the Grand Palais not simply as a restored monument but has unlocked new potential for the building as a vibrant space for public engagement and culture.”

Project Details

Name: Grand Palais
Location: Paris, France
Typology: Renovation, restoration
Client: Grand Palais Rmn
Architect: Chatillon Architectes
Design Team: François Chatillon and Simon Chatillon (partners, Chatillon Architectes)
Collaborators: MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) Engineering: Ingerop; Project Management (OPC: Scheduling, Coordination and Steering): CICAD; Structural Engineering: Igrec; Quantity Surveyor / Cost Consultant: DAL; Lighting Designer: 8'18”; Vegetation Expert: Aubépine; Acousticien: AVA (Acoustique Vivié Associés); Health and Safety Coordinator (SPS) and HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) Prevention: Qualiconsult; Technical Control Office: Veritas
Year of Completion: 2025