Japanese architect Tadao Ando has designed a revamp of the 18th century Paris Stock Exchange to transform it into a new contemporary art gallery. The renovation plan places a cylindrical concrete structure under the circular dome of the original building, which will serve as the gallery's exhibition space. Two French architecture firms, Niney et Marca Architectes and Pierre-Antoine Gatier, as well as architectural consultant Setec Batiment, were also involved in the renovation and restoration of the historic building.

Francois Pinault, founder of the luxury goods group Kering, commissioned Mr. Ando to renovate the historic building to display his collection of more than 5,000 works of art. Before that, Francois Pinault commissioned Tadao Ando to renovate the Palazzo Grassi in Venice.

The Paris Bourse was founded in 1767 and was used for grain trading. In the mid-1800s, it became a stock exchange. The lower walls of the dome are decorated with grand murals depicting trade between the five continents since the 17th century. Ando's renovation plan fully respects the original structure of the building by inserting a circular space within an existing circular plan. "The stock exchange adheres to the symmetry principle of traditional architecture, which is fully reflected in the rotunda at its centre," says Mr Ando. In order to maintain its symmetry, we inserted a concrete cylinder structure 30 meters in diameter and nine meters in height into the rotunda." The concrete structure will house seven exhibition rooms, a reception room and a meditation room. The lower level is designed as a 284-seat circular auditorium. The auditorium is a "black box-style" design that displays video and audio installations on its walls.

"So far, concrete cylinders have been implanted inside the building and the project is on track for success," Ando said. It was a delicate project and our construction team did an excellent job. The insertion of the new structure did not destroy the original building at all. The old building was not only preserved but also revitalized." The gallery will open to the public in September 2020.