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Artistic Finishing Touches

Several artists participated in the renovation project. Hervé Audibert was commissioned to develop the electric lighting concept. He installed several horizontal rows of colored lights that are hidden behind concrete elements. These lights turn on when everyone has left the building, and they have become a sign of the absence of people and the presence of the building itself.

The artist Michelangelo Pistoletto created the furniture for the different areas of the building. Graphic designer Pierre di Sciullo developed the corporate identity of the National Dance Center, including signage and color scheme. The involvement of different artists in the project makes the interior lively and gives it a feeling of completeness.

After 25 years as an office building, the creation of Jacques Kalisz has now undergone a successful renovation and transformation to its next life. The project offers an important lesson. If a building does not perform as expected, perhaps we should see it as a failure of the function, not of the building itself. There could well be a second opportunity to save it from demolition by giving it a new purpose.

Christian Horn lives and works in Paris. His architecture office works in the field of architecture and urban planning, and he writes for several international architecture and design magazines.

Architect: Atelier Robain & Guieysse (Antoinette Robain and Claire Guieysse)
Structure: Batiserf
Economy: Michel Forgue
Technical Equipment: Inex
Acoustic: Thermibel
Lightning: Hervé Audibert

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The main entry of the National Dance Center, designed by Atelier Robain & Guieysse, as seen from the street "Rue Victor Hugo." Photo: Agathe Poupeney/ Centre National de la Danse Inside a dance studio. Photo: Agathe Poupeney/ Centre National de la Danse Furniture created by artist Michelangelo Pistoletto. Photo: Agathe Poupeney/ Centre National de la Danse Poster for the National Dance Center. Image: Centre National de la Danse   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.