A CIDADE BRANCA
Architecture, Design, Illustration, Photography, Art, Music and Landscape
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![LAND+CITY+URBAN+SCAPE | 686 | PARIS | FRANCE | GOOGLE EARTH
On 14 July 1988, President François Mitterrand announced the construction and the expansion of one of the largest and most modern libraries in the world, intended to cover all fields of knowledge, and designed to be accessible to all, using the most modern data transfer technologies, which could be consulted from a distance, and which would collaborate with other European libraries. Surprisingly, the library does not maintain a wireless network. In July 1989, the services of the architectural firm of Dominique Perrault were retained. The construction was carried out by Bouygues.[6] Construction of the library ran into huge cost overruns and technical difficulties related to its high-rise design, so much so that it is commonly referred to as the “TGB” or “Très Grande Bibliothèque” (i.e. “Very Large Library,” a sarcastic allusion to France’s successful high-speed rail system, the TGV).[7] After the move of the major collections from the rue de Richelieu, the National Library of France was inaugurated on 15 December 1996.[8] It contains more than ten million volumes.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4lcthVQXr1qdnrgdo1_1280.jpg)
LAND+CITY+URBAN+SCAPE | 686 | PARIS | FRANCE | GOOGLE EARTH
On 14 July 1988, President François Mitterrand announced the construction and the expansion of one of the largest and most modern libraries in the world, intended to cover all fields of knowledge, and designed to be accessible to all, using the most modern data transfer technologies, which could be consulted from a distance, and which would collaborate with other European libraries. Surprisingly, the library does not maintain a wireless network. In July 1989, the services of the architectural firm of Dominique Perrault were retained. The construction was carried out by Bouygues.[6] Construction of the library ran into huge cost overruns and technical difficulties related to its high-rise design, so much so that it is commonly referred to as the “TGB” or “Très Grande Bibliothèque” (i.e. “Very Large Library,” a sarcastic allusion to France’s successful high-speed rail system, the TGV).[7] After the move of the major collections from the rue de Richelieu, the National Library of France was inaugurated on 15 December 1996.[8] It contains more than ten million volumes.
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LAND+CITY+URBAN+SCAPE | 685 | PARIS | FRANCE | GOOGLE EARTH
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LAND+CITY+URBAN+SCAPE | 684 | PARIS | FRANCE | GOOGLE EARTH
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LAND+CITY+URBAN+SCAPE | 683 | PARIS | FRANCE | GOOGLE EARTH
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![LAND+CITY+URBAN+SCAPE | 682 | PARIS | FRANCE | GOOGLE EARTH
Centre Georges Pompidou (French pronunciation: [sɑ̃tʁ ʒɔʁʒ pɔ̃pidu]; also known as the Pompidou Centre in English) is a complex in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement of Paris, near Les Halles, rue Montorgueil and the Marais. It was designed in the style of high-tech architecture.
It houses the Bibliothèque publique d’information, a vast public library, the Musée National d’Art Moderne which is the largest museum for modern art in Europe, and IRCAM, a centre for music and acoustic research. Because of its location, the Centre is known locally as the Beaubourg (IPA: [bobuʁ]). It is named after Georges Pompidou, the President of France from 1969 to 1974 who decided its creation, and was officially opened on 31 January 1977 by President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing. The Centre Pompidou has had over 150 million visitors since 1977.[1]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4lcocFgg31qdnrgdo1_1280.jpg)
LAND+CITY+URBAN+SCAPE | 682 | PARIS | FRANCE | GOOGLE EARTH
Centre Georges Pompidou (French pronunciation: [sɑ̃tʁ ʒɔʁʒ pɔ̃pidu]; also known as the Pompidou Centre in English) is a complex in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement of Paris, near Les Halles, rue Montorgueil and the Marais. It was designed in the style of high-tech architecture.
It houses the Bibliothèque publique d’information, a vast public library, the Musée National d’Art Moderne which is the largest museum for modern art in Europe, and IRCAM, a centre for music and acoustic research. Because of its location, the Centre is known locally as the Beaubourg (IPA: [bobuʁ]). It is named after Georges Pompidou, the President of France from 1969 to 1974 who decided its creation, and was officially opened on 31 January 1977 by President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing. The Centre Pompidou has had over 150 million visitors since 1977.[1]
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![LAND+CITY+URBAN+SCAPE | 681 | PARIS | FRANCE | GOOGLE EARTH
The avenue runs for 1.91 km (1.18 mi) through the 8th arrondissement in northwestern Paris, from the Place de la Concorde in the east, with the Obelisk of Luxor,[3] to the Place Charles de Gaulle (formerly the Place de l’Étoile) in the west, location of the Arc de Triomphe. The Champs-Élysées forms part of the Axe historique.
One of the principal tourist destinations in Paris, the lower part of the Champs-Élysées is bordered by greenery (Carré Marigny) and by buildings such as the Théâtre Marigny and the Grand Palais (containing thePalais de la Découverte). The Élysée Palace is slightly to the north, but not on the avenue itself. Further to the west, the avenue is lined with cinemas, cafés and restaurants, and luxury specialty shops. The Champs-Élysées ends at the Arc de Triomphe, built to honour the victories of Napoleon Bonaparte.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4lcmpMII41qdnrgdo1_1280.jpg)
LAND+CITY+URBAN+SCAPE | 681 | PARIS | FRANCE | GOOGLE EARTH
The avenue runs for 1.91 km (1.18 mi) through the 8th arrondissement in northwestern Paris, from the Place de la Concorde in the east, with the Obelisk of Luxor,[3] to the Place Charles de Gaulle (formerly the Place de l’Étoile) in the west, location of the Arc de Triomphe. The Champs-Élysées forms part of the Axe historique.
One of the principal tourist destinations in Paris, the lower part of the Champs-Élysées is bordered by greenery (Carré Marigny) and by buildings such as the Théâtre Marigny and the Grand Palais (containing thePalais de la Découverte). The Élysée Palace is slightly to the north, but not on the avenue itself. Further to the west, the avenue is lined with cinemas, cafés and restaurants, and luxury specialty shops. The Champs-Élysées ends at the Arc de Triomphe, built to honour the victories of Napoleon Bonaparte.
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LAND+CITY+URBAN+SCAPE | 680 | PARIS | FRANCE | GOOGLE EARTH
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LAND+CITY+URBAN+SCAPE | 679 | PARIS | FRANCE | GOOGLE EARTH
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LAND+CITY+URBAN+SCAPE | 678 | PARIS | FRANCE | GOOGLE EARTH
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LAND+CITY+URBAN+SCAPE | 677 | PARIS | FRANCE | GOOGLE EARTH
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LAND+CITY+URBAN+SCAPE | 676 | PARIS | FRANCE | GOOGLE EARTH
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![LAND+CITY+URBAN+SCAPE | 675 | PARIS | FRANCE | GOOGLE EARTH
Louis XIV initiated the project by an order dated 24 November 1670, as a home and hospital for aged and unwell soldiers: the name is a shortened form ofhôpital des invalides. The architect of Les Invalides was Libéral Bruant. The selected site was in the then suburban plain of Grenelle (plaine de Grenelle). By the time the enlarged project was completed in 1676, the river front measured 196 metres and the complex had fifteen courtyards, the largest being the cour d’honneur (“court of honour”) for military parades. It was then felt that the veterans required a chapel. Jules Hardouin Mansart assisted the aged Bruant, and the chapel was finished in 1679 to Bruant’s designs after the elder architect’s death. The chapel is known as Église Saint-Louis des Invalides. Daily attendance was required.
Shortly after the veterans’ chapel was completed, Louis XIV commissioned Mansart to construct a separate private royal chapel referred to as the Église du Dôme from its most striking feature (see gallery). Inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica inRome, the original for all Baroque domes, it is one of the triumphs of French Baroque architecture. Mansart raised its drum with an attic storey over its main cornice, and employed the paired columns motif in his more complicated rhythmic theme. The general programme is sculptural but tightly integrated, rich but balanced, consistently carried through, capping its vertical thrust firmly with a ribbed and hemispherical dome. The domed chapel is centrally placed to dominate the court of honour. It was finished in 1708.
The interior of the dome (see gallery) was painted by Le Brun’s disciple Charles de La Fosse with a Baroque illusion of space (sotto in su) seen from below. The painting was completed in 1705[citation needed].](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4lcgtF1Aj1qdnrgdo1_1280.jpg)
LAND+CITY+URBAN+SCAPE | 675 | PARIS | FRANCE | GOOGLE EARTH
Louis XIV initiated the project by an order dated 24 November 1670, as a home and hospital for aged and unwell soldiers: the name is a shortened form ofhôpital des invalides. The architect of Les Invalides was Libéral Bruant. The selected site was in the then suburban plain of Grenelle (plaine de Grenelle). By the time the enlarged project was completed in 1676, the river front measured 196 metres and the complex had fifteen courtyards, the largest being the cour d’honneur (“court of honour”) for military parades. It was then felt that the veterans required a chapel. Jules Hardouin Mansart assisted the aged Bruant, and the chapel was finished in 1679 to Bruant’s designs after the elder architect’s death. The chapel is known as Église Saint-Louis des Invalides. Daily attendance was required.
Shortly after the veterans’ chapel was completed, Louis XIV commissioned Mansart to construct a separate private royal chapel referred to as the Église du Dôme from its most striking feature (see gallery). Inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica inRome, the original for all Baroque domes, it is one of the triumphs of French Baroque architecture. Mansart raised its drum with an attic storey over its main cornice, and employed the paired columns motif in his more complicated rhythmic theme. The general programme is sculptural but tightly integrated, rich but balanced, consistently carried through, capping its vertical thrust firmly with a ribbed and hemispherical dome. The domed chapel is centrally placed to dominate the court of honour. It was finished in 1708.
The interior of the dome (see gallery) was painted by Le Brun’s disciple Charles de La Fosse with a Baroque illusion of space (sotto in su) seen from below. The painting was completed in 1705[citation needed].
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LAND+CITY+URBAN+SCAPE | 674 | PARIS | FRANCE | GOOGLE EARTH
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LAND+CITY+URBAN+SCAPE | 673 | PARIS | FRANCE | GOOGLE EARTH
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LAND+CITY+URBAN+SCAPE | 672 | PARIS | FRANCE | GOOGLE EARTH
