Paris, renowned for its signature landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame Cathedral, blends rich history with modern innovation. While celebrated for its classical beauty, the city has evolved into a dynamic hub for cutting-edge design.

Art historian Jennie Hirsh leads an illustrated walk through the city, highlighting some of the most innovative and visually striking buildings of the modern era. She explores museum and exhibition spaces including the Pyramid extension by I.M. Pei at the Louvre; the Centre Georges Pompidou by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers; the Fondation Louis Vuitton by Frank Gehry; and the Musée du Quai Branly by Jean Nouvel.

The journey continues with the renovation of the Bourse de Commerce by Tadao Ando, along with the remarkable transformation of the former Gare d'Orsay train station into the Musée d'Orsay by Gae Aulenti, home to one of the finest collections of French Impressionism. Hirsh also explores the Philharmonie de Paris by Jean Nouvel and visits the nearby Parc de la Villette, where each piece in Bernard Tschumi’s playful series of red enameled-steel structures is linked to a cultural or leisure activity.

Other architectural landmarks include the sleek Institut du Monde Arabe by Jean Nouvel and the monumental Bibliothèque Nationale by Dominique Perrault. The survey concludes with a look at distinctive residential buildings such as Gérard Grandval’s Les Choux de Créteil, Marvin van Trek’s Les Orgues de Flandre, and OMA’s avant-garde Villa dall’Ava.

General Information

• View Common FAQs and Policies about our Online Programs on Zoom.