Glass roof art above Hôtel de la Marine in Paris

30.1.2020 I Latest news

With a 300m2 glass roof shaped like a giant crystal, Paris will soon have a new area to enjoy the many facets of daylight. The roof is erected over the inner courtyard of the Hôtel de la Marine at Place de la Concorde as part of a larger restoration of the historic building from the 18th century.

VILLUM FONDEN has granted EUR 800,000 for the stunning glass art. The roof is designed by architect Hugh Dutton, who has created many other architectural glass landmarks in Paris using daylight as natural building stones.

"We are proud to be able to once again breathe new life into an extraordinary cultural heritage and to offer residents of Paris and future visitors a new vibrant area, modern and bathed in natural light," said Jens Kann-Rasmussen, Chair of VILLUM  FONDEN, thus referring to two other major restoration projects enabled by grants from the foundation: the iconic glass dome at the Palais de la Découverte and the magnificent stained glass windows of the la Sainte-Chapelle Church at Île de la Cité.