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25194 Lleida
Spain
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GRAND PALAIS ÉPHÉMÈRE
EPHEMERAL ARCHITECTURE AS AN URBAN SOLUTION
Designed by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, the Grand Palais Éphémère is a temporary building located on the Champ de Mars. Its wooden structure and ecological features make it a remarkable construction, firmly rooted in our time. A true architectural feat, it fits naturally into a site whose history — like that of the Grand Palais — is closely linked to the World Expositions of the 19th and 20th centuries. As an event venue, the Grand Palais Éphémère is intended to host the major events usually held in the Grand Palais during its restoration, such as FIAC, Paris Photo, the Saut Hermès or Chanel fashion shows. A rich programme organised by the RMN – Grand Palais is also offered to the public: exhibitions, live performances and events open to all audiences shape the yearly calendar. It is also an Olympic venue: the Grand Palais Éphémère will host the judo and wrestling events, as well as wheelchair rugby and para-judo, during the summer of 2024.
TECHNICAL BASIS
Located on the Joffre plateau, the Grand Palais Éphémère respects the layout of the Champ de Mars. Positioned between the École Militaire and the Eiffel Tower, it rises to a height of 20 metres, without exceeding the height of the École Militaire, which stands 16 metres higher. Integrated into the building, the statue of Marshal Joffre was fully restored as part of the installation. The 44 monumental arches of the Grand Palais Éphémère were assembled on site in just three months.
The structure of the building is designed to be modular and can be reused in various configurations after its dismantling from the Champ de Mars in autumn 2024. Its modularity, the use of sustainable materials, and the structure itself make the Grand Palais Éphémère a project fully aligned with today’s environmental imperatives.
The wood used for the structure is PEFC-certified, meaning it comes from sustainably managed forests. Wood acts as a carbon sink: the CO2 captured by the structure is estimated at 1,956 tonnes! The double skin surrounding the building provides strong acoustic, thermal, and ventilation benefits, helping to reduce energy consumption. The transparent membrane visible from the outside is made from a non-oil-based mineral polymer (ETFE), which requires 90% less energy to produce than glass and is fully recyclable.