We recognised the Pompidou Centre immediately when we saw it—it is so strange looking.
The Pompidou Centre was built between 1972 and 1977 and displays and promotes contemporary art. It was named after Georges Pompidou - President of France between 1960-1974. He wanted a venue where people could enjoy contemporary film, drama, music, dance, and visual art and so the Pompidou Centre was built. It took 5 years to construct. It is also known as the Beaubourg and houses the Musee National d'Art Moderne.
People either love or hate the brazen design of the building. It has grown on me, I thought it was ugly at first but I think I appreciate it for its "differentness." Anyway, it still manages to attract 6 million people a year.
It was designed to create a radical building inside and out. In most buildings the structural supports and the services—pipeworks, air ducts, and escalators are neatly hidden. Here the architects have put them onto the outside to free up the interior space and made a feature of them by painting them in bright colours. The piping is colour coded—yellow for electrics, blue for air-conditioning, green for water, and red for the lifts.
As well as the art galleries, there is a library with over 2,000 periodicals.
There is a lovely little gift shop on the mezzanine level selling contemporary and beautifully designed objects—household appliances, hairdryers, gifts—very diverse and very nice.
In the square to the west of the centre there were lots of young, studenty, arty people sitting on the ground, chatting and enjoying the sunshine. We also saw lots of street musicians, some Marcel Marceau impersonators and a few unsavoury types as well. Apparently this is an area where pickpockets are rife. We however loved the buzzing and lively atmosphere.
Around the corner from the main entrance to the Pompidou Centre is the Place Igor Stravinsky—there are some great fountains there—modern, surreal and, worth seeing.