Le Louvre has selected a joint proposal by Studios Architecture Paris and Selldorf Architects for its new entrance via the Perrault colonnade, part of the 'Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance' plan. The project, announced by Emmanuel Macron on January 28, 2025, aims to create a new eastern access to relieve overcrowding at the Pyramid, with two underground entrances, vegetated moats, new services, and a dedicated space for the Mona Lisa. The selection was announced by Culture Minister Catherine Pégard on May 18, despite controversies over funding, heritage constraints, a theft in the Galerie d'Apollon on October 19, 2025, and the departure of museum president Laurence des Cars.
This decision matters because it signals the Louvre's commitment to a major architectural and visitor-experience overhaul, addressing chronic congestion while creating a standalone presentation for its most famous artwork. The choice of Selldorf Architects, known for sensitive museum renovations like the Frick Collection and the National Gallery's Sainsbury Wing, suggests a focus on integration and functionality over spectacle. The project will also test how France balances heritage preservation with modernization in one of its most sensitive historic palaces.