Institut du Monde Arabe

By parisian on 20/08/2009 in Attractions, Paris

Institut du Monde Arabe Exterior View

The Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA) or Arab World Institute (AWI), in English, was established in 1980 in Paris, when 18 Arab countries concluded an agreement with France to establish the Institute to disseminate information about the Arab world and set in motion detailed research to cover Arabic and the Arab world’s cultural and spiritual values. The Institute also aims at promoting cooperation and cultural exchanges between France and the Arab world, particularly in the areas of science and technology, thus contributing to development of relations between the Arab world and Europe. Libya joined the agreement in 1984.

Architectural features of the AWI building

Inside View of Institut du Monde Arabe by enavant

The AWI is located in the building also known as Institut du Monde Arabe, on Rue des Fossés Saint Bernard in Paris, France, constructed from 1981 to 1987 with a floor space of 181,850 square feet (16,894 m²). Jean Nouvel won the 1981 design competition with a project that proposed risk-taking solutions that, over the course of the years, have proven themselves. The building acts as a buffer zone between the Jussieu Campus, in large rationalist blocks, and the River Seine. The river facade follows the curve of the waterway and helps reduce the hardness of a rectangular block, adapting itself to the view from the Sully Bridge. At the same time the building also appears to fold itself back in the direction of the Saint Germain des Pres district. (Text Source: Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia)

Institut du Monde Arabe is located in the 5th arrondissement of Paris. So, you may want to see;