As a House dedicated to creation that is open to the world and turned toward the future, Chanel renews its commitment to an initiative taken by its founder Gabrielle Chanel, by supporting the cultural and artistic stature of Paris. Chanel will reinforce its commitment to Paris through a new, exclusive and historic sponsorship: the House will contribute 25 million euros to the restoration and renovation of the Grand Palais, a symbol of architectural innovation in Paris since its creation.
Built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, the Grand Palais is one of Europe’s most beautiful historic monuments as well as a site that has been closely linked with Chanel for many years. Since 2005, it has been the setting for the extraordinary decors created by the House’s Artistic Director Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel Ready-to-Wear and Haute Couture shows.
The Nave has welcomed monumental sculptures of the Chanel jacket and lion that Gabrielle Chanel so loved, as well as a giant world globe, ice sculptures in the form of an iceberg, wind turbines, waterfalls, a wood house and – in a striking homage to Paris – a model of the Eiffel Tower.
Karl Lagerfeld’s boundless creative daring has also seen this symbolic venue transformed into a classical Greek amphitheater in the heart of a veritable forest, a ravaged theater, a shopping center, a Parisian street scene for a women’s march, an airport terminal, a Parisian brasserie, a French garden and a Versailles-inspired bosquet, and even a launch pad for a rocket ship that lifted off underneath the domed glass roof! Each feat sprang from the inexhaustible imagination of the designer who, season after season, creates surprise, leaves a lasting impression and lights up the world.
Bringing the Grand Palais firmly into the 21st century
This unique cultural and heritage site with its exceptional size and remarkable dimensions (particularly its Nave, the largest in Europe with a surface area of 13,500 m2, crowned with a 17,500 m2 glass roof) has not been renovated since it was built in 1900, with the exception of the Nave, the Southeast Gallery and the Salon d’Honneur.
The initial aim of the works is to give Paris and the public a beautifully and boldly restored Grand Palais, in the spirit of its original design. The dimensions, walkways, décor and original interior lighting of the Grand Palais will all be restored. The Rue des Palais, a major innovation, will cut right through the monument at basement level, becoming the spectacular main artery that will connect all the spaces of the Grand Palais that have so far remained isolated from one another. The area surrounding the monument will also be reconfigured and smartened up. The works will strengthen the appeal of the Grand Palais as a major events venue in the capital and Greater Paris, as well as a key tourist destination.
