Doesn’t this building look out of place? The “artwork” covering the building’s façade is not scaffolding indicating a renovation. It was in fact added during a renewal of the building and is called "iron lace." This is the Ministry of Culture and Communication located near the
Palais Royal. Its role in the French government is responsibility for national museums and monuments; managing the national archives and cultural centers; and promoting and protecting all the arts. So I guess it needs to look artsy. It catches your eye because it looks out of place amidst all the Haussmann buildings. And, in fact, the more I look at it--I'm beginning to like it, too!
Although the French love their history of architectural “experiements” and pushing the envelope, this renewal was controversial, as so many others. So controversial that the heirs of the architect that designed the original building, Antoine Vaudoyer, sued the guy who made the "lace" (Francis Soler) claiming that Vaudoyer's copyright was infringed. They did not win...
