Contemporary Architecture

Paris isn’t just about classical architecture and historical monuments. Just as the Eiffel Tower was bold and controversial at its construction, a number of other more modern buildings around the city stand out for their unique design.

Fujifilm X-E1, 18mm, ISO 200, 1/60s, f/18

Pompidou Centre

The Pompidou Centre opened in 1977 and houses a large public library, a museum of modern art, and a center for acoustic research. With non-French architects competing in the design competition, the controversial architecture features an exposed skeleton with brightly colored piping.

It isn’t the most photogenic of buildings and it’s difficult to appreciate its scale from up close, but you can capture good views across the city from the upper levels. The area around the center is interesting, too, with plenty of street artists and street art. Visit the adjacent Place Stravinsky to see the Stravinsky Fountain with its 16 colorful sculptures and the impressive contrast of modern street art next to classical French architecture.

Fujifilm X-E1, 18mm, ISO 200, 1/1000s, f/2.8

Cité de la Mode et du Design

The Cité de la Mode et du Design (City of Fashion and Design) building opened in 2010 and is situated on the left bank of the river near Gare d'Austerlitz. Smaller in scale, the architecture in some ways follows a similar theme to that of the Pompidou Centre, with tunneled walkways around the outside of the building and a skeletal appearance, this time in striking green.

La Defense

La Defense is a business district, just outside the main city at the end of Metro line 1. The modern architecture here provides fascinating photography opportunities, with colors, reflections, and unusual angles, as well as the arch itself and the steps leading up to it.

The area also hosts the Grand Arch, from which you can see down the historical axis to the Arc de Triomphe. From the roof of the Grand Arch, which was not accessible at the time of writing, you can see how the Montparnasse Tower lines up exactly behind the Eiffel Tower, thus forming another axis of monuments.