Constructed on the Champ-de-Mars in Paris, in front of the Ecole Militaire and on the axis of the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais Éphémère is a temporary 10,000 square meter building designed by Wilmotte & Associés. During the period the Grand Palais is closed for restoration works, this building will house art, fashion and sporting events, including the FIAC, Saut Hermès and Chanel fashion shows. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, this ephemeral construction will host up to 9,000 spectators to the judo and wrestling competitions.
Completely free of posts or any structural elements, the main nave of the Grand Palais Éphémère spans 51 m in width with a 33 m depth. 44 monumental arches were assembled on-site over three months with the structure covered with opaque PVC on the roof so that interior light can be managed in accordance with events taking place. ETFE is used on the outside with its transparency ensuring that the wooden identity of the structure maintains visible.
Ensuring urban and aesthetic integration with the historic context represented a major project challenge. Slightly curved, the design follows the curve of the base of the Eiffel tower as viewed from this perspective. The height is limited to accommodate further use as well as leave the dome of the Military School a prominent 16 meters higher.
Located on the Champ-de-Mars, the Grand Palais Éphémère has a strong connection with the history of the Universal Exhibitions. The urban and aesthetic integration of the structure represented a major challenge and architectural ambition. The slightly curved design follows the curves of the feet of the Eiffel Tower viewed from its perspective. The height has been strictly limited to the needs of future use and therefore leaves the dome of the Military School sixteen metres higher, so as not to hide it. The curvature of the ensemble does not show any break in the lines between the roof, which has no criterion. In addition, its double skin has a powerful capacity for sound insulation.
