The Centre Pompidou in Paris, designed in 1971 by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, is closing for a major transformation that will take five years. Following an international competition, the renovation has been entrusted to Moreau Kusunoki, in association with Frida Escobedo Studio, alongside AIA Life Designers for the technical components. Initiated in 2020 with the support of France's Ministry of Culture, the project addresses urgent needs, including the removal of asbestos from facades, improved fire safety, enhanced accessibility, and significant upgrades in energy efficiency. The works will require a full closure of the Beaubourg site, with a planned reopening in 2030.
Conceived as a "living cultural machine," the Centre Pompidou was both celebrated and contested at its opening due to its radical architecture. The renovation combines technical renewal with architectural reconfiguration. Beyond structural restoration and environmental optimisation, the project aims to rethink visitor circulation, enhance the display of collections, expand the Public Information Library (Bpi), and reaffirm the Centre's multidisciplinary identity.
Since its inception, the Centre Pompidou has strived to be an experimental space, constantly reinventing itself in order to remain relevant and inspire new ideas. We saw this renovation project as an opportunity to enhance all of these aspects and, through a respectful, adaptive repair, to create a museum that reinforces an openness and continuity with the city. Our proposal is rooted in a dialogue with the existing fabric. By multiplying the physical and visual porosities and restoring the clarity of the different users' paths, the design encourages the reactivation and requalification of the spaces. We aspire to encourage greater freedom of appropriation, to create a cultural center that reflects the generous values on which it was conceived, where human interaction and physical experience are central. - Nicolas Moreau and Hiroko Kusunoki
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Moreau Kusunoki and Frida Escobedo Studio Undertake Major Renovation of Centre Pompidou in Paris
The renovation extends to key public areas such as the Piazza, the Forum, and the Agora, where new connections and layouts will foster openness and social interaction. The project also introduces the "New Generation" hub, an inclusive space designed for younger audiences, and reimagines the Public Information Library as a flexible environment integrating exhibitions, collections, and social spaces. The museum galleries and exhibition levels will undergo scenographic updates, while a new rooftop terrace will offer panoramic views over Paris.
On the technical side, led by AIA Life Designers, the intervention seeks to restore the building's durability and adaptability, aligning with low-carbon objectives. Works include facade replacement, structural reinforcement, and modernisation of energy, security, and accessibility systems. A large emphasis is placed on reuse and circularity, with strategies for reemployment of construction materials and furniture, as well as the use of recyclable components.
In parallel, the Centre Pompidou will expand its cultural reach. Through the "Constellation" program, its activities will continue across partner venues in France and abroad. In 2026, the Centre Pompidou Francilien – Fabrique de l'Art, a new facility dedicated to creation and conservation, will open in Massy, Essonne. By 2030, the Centre Pompidou aims to reopen as a renewed cultural platform, more porous, accessible, and environmentally conscious, continuing its role as an emblem of experimental architecture and multidisciplinary creation in the heart of Paris.
The Pompidou project also reflects the broader trajectory of its lead architects. Moreau Kusunoki is currently completing the Powerhouse Parramatta museum in Australia and has a diverse portfolio that includes Le Berlier, a 50-meter-tall timber tower in Paris' 13th arrondissement combining housing with communal amenities, as well as a proposal for the Guggenheim Museum in Helsinki. Frida Escobedo similarly brings experience from major cultural commissions, including her work on the new modern and contemporary art wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
