The Musée de l'Homme in Paris has reopened

Musée del l'Homme - the famous anthropological museum in Paris - has reopened after a 5-year refurbishment. In addition to revamping the interiors and the layout, the refurbishment radically changed the criteria used to present the history of man.



Who are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going? The displays in the Musée de l'Homme, anthropological museum - very close to the Eiffel Tower - are based around these three questions. First opened in 1938 after it was set up for the 1937 World Fair in the Passy wing of Palais de Chaillot, the museum was closed for a complete overhaul of the interior space and the museum concept.





Paris again has two anthropological museums - the new Musée du Quai Branly designed by Jean Nouvel with Patrick Blanc's famous vertical garden (link), and now the Musée del l'Homme that showcases the evolution of man and society, combining biological, social and cultural approaches, according to the philosophy of Paul Rivet: “Humanity is an indivisible whole, not only in space but also across time.”
A disconcertingly topical observation in our digital world that moves from the present to the present, where we are more and more at risk of forgetting where we came from, our roots and therefore of losing important knowledge for cultural development.
The renovation of the Museé de l'Homme is the result of an interdisciplinary reflection, thereby showing man and his environment as a whole, with contemporary storytelling in addition to the usual interactive exhibits and tools.
 





The winners of the 2006 competition, Agence Brochet-Lajus-Pueyo with Atelier d'Architecture Emmanuel Nebout worked on all the installations, technical and security systems, and from the outside visitors are greeted with the original museum built in 1938, only to be wowed by the brand new - but reversible - interior. 



They opted for flexibility and the use of natural light. The large atrium boasts a light well with a 16-metre high ceiling, and is located in the main pavilion. It is an attraction in itself and the active core of the museum, leading to the layout of the museum flow.



So we have now added the Musée de l'Homme to our to-do list when visiting Paris, both to see its fantastic permanent collection that inspired so many artists in the past - Picasso being just one - and to enjoy the temporary exhibitions and the new museum concept!

Christiane Bürklein

Project: Agence Brochet-Lajus-Pueyo with Atelier d'Architecture Emmanuel Nebout
Reopening: 17 October 2015
Location: Paris, France
Official website: http://www.museedelhomme.fr/
Images: Courtesy of Musée de l'Homme, all rights reserved