INTRODUCTION
Dominique Perrault, the leading French architect, became a landmark figure in contemporary architecture after winning the competition for the Bibliothèque nationale de France at age of 36. Perrault was born in 1953 and was educated at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He holds many prestigious prizes and awards including "Grande Médaille d'or d'Architecture" (2010), "Seoul Metropolitan Architecture Award" for EWHA Womans University in Korea, "World Architecture Award" (2002), "Mies van der Rohe prize" (1997), "French national Grand Prize for Architecture" (1993).
This essay will analyse Dominique Perrault’s award winning project Bibliothèque nationale de France built in Paris in 1989-1995. It will explore the historical, cultural and environmental factors that influenced the design of the library and it will compare and contrast his project approach to other architecture projects which serve similar function or purpose and have received an international recognition.
MAIN BODY
1. Context and Approach
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) is one of the most important projects in Domonique Perrault career. It helped him to define and shape his architectural style, choice of materials, concepts behind the design and gain the recognition and success in France and around the world. Bibliothèque nationale de France received the Mies Van der Rohe European Prize of Architecture in 1997.
The French National Library was one of the first structures to be built for a newly developed area - Paris Rive Gauche. It currently accommodates a business centre, retail facilities, a film library and university buildings. A total area of 330,000 square meters, the new library was to replace the Bibliothèque Nati...
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