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| Zaha Hadid's mobile art pavilion, commissioned and donated by Chanel, now forms a permanent part of the exhibition space at IMA to showcase works by Arabic artists |
Located along the left bank of River Seine, the Institut du Monde Arabe is an architectural gem as much as a symbol that epitomises the Islamic culture and the engagement of the Middle East in the West.
The building is designed by the legendary French architect Jean Nouvel, winner of the 2008 Pritzker Prize, architecture's highest honour. It is also this project of 1987 that brought Nouvel international fame. The signature of IMA is the glass facade comprising metallic screens that unfold with moving geometic mofits around the day controlling the amount of sunlight entering the building - similar to a camera shutter. In fact, this seemingly revolutionary idea can be linked to traditional Arabic architectural features for climate control. 'Mashrabiyah', for example, is an ornamental window screen that provides shade and protection from the hot summer sun. As such, IMA is an exemplary result of a marriage between foreign ideas and functionality that inspire contemporary designs.
As seen from the inside, mechanical lenses reminscent of Arabic latticework in its south wall open and shut automatically, controlling interior lighting as the lenses' photoelectric cells respond to exterior light levels.
One of the best kept secrets about the IMA is the panaromic view of Paris on its top floor. If you are not fond of crowds, this is the place to be.
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| A view of Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris and Pont Marie from the IMA |
Very interesting.
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