The French Ministry of Culture has announced the five finalist teams competing to design President Emmanuel Macron's ambitious Louvre renovation project, which includes a new public entrance and underground galleries for the Mona Lisa. The winner is expected to be selected in early 2026, with completion targeted for 2030.
Culture Minister Rachida Dati revealed the selection through a press release following a jury meeting on October 7, where 21 members reviewed proposals from architectural, scenographic, urban planning, and landscape design teams. The announcement comes amid political uncertainty regarding the next culture minister due to an ongoing government reshuffle.
Among the finalists is British architect Amanda Levete from the AL_A agency, known primarily for her work in the United Kingdom. Her most notable achievement is the 2017 extension of London's Victoria & Albert Museum, featuring a new entrance and temporary exhibition galleries. In France, she participated in the Paris competition to reimagine the areas around the Eiffel Tower and Trocadéro. Her Louvre proposal includes collaboration with NC Nathalie Crinière for scenography, Carole Benaiteau for museography, VDLA for landscape design, and Atelier SOIL for urban planning.
Architecture Studio, a well-known French firm, represents the second finalist team. The agency has completed numerous high-profile projects including the reconstruction of Radio France's grand auditorium, Sotheby's new Paris flagship store, and the Cité des arts in Montpellier. They have extensive international experience in China and the Gulf region, particularly in cultural projects. Their Louvre proposal partners with Diller Scofidio + Renfro, with scenography handled by Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Atelier Brückner, museography by LAMAYA, landscape by Diller Scofidio + Renfro and TER agency, and urban planning by Architecture Studio.
The third finalist combines Dubuisson Architecture with the prestigious Japanese firm SANAA. Thomas and Catherine Dubuisson's agency already has extensive experience with the Louvre, having completed a 2016 renovation of the Carrousel du Louvre's foyer in the commercial gallery. They also renovated 7,000 square meters of reception spaces under the pyramid in 2018 and redesigned the RMN shops within the museum. Their Japanese partners, SANAA's Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, won the Pritzker Prize in 2010 and are familiar with the Louvre through their work on the Lens branch. In 2007, they delivered the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York, featuring stacked blocks with aluminum mesh. Dan Pearson Studio handles the landscape component of their proposal.
Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto represents the fourth finalist team. Although his ambitious "Mille arbres" (Thousand Trees) project spanning the Paris ring road at Porte Maillot never materialized, his L'Arbre blanc (White Tree) in Montpellier stands as a testament to his innovative approach. This 17-story residential building, created with Laisné-Roussel and OXO Architectes, features balconies and pergolas that appear suspended in space. For the Louvre project, Sou Fujimoto architects' Paris office collaborates with Ducks Scéno for scenography and museography, and Vogt paysage for landscape and urban planning.
The final team features STUDIOS, an international agency founded in San Francisco forty years ago. The firm has built a reputation specializing in major technology companies, with notable projects including Google's Mountain View headquarters (1994) and Microsoft France's Paris offices. For the Louvre competition, Selldorf architects handles both scenography and museography, Scénarchie contributes additional scenographic expertise, and BASE agency manages landscape and urban planning components.
Macron announced this major Louvre renovation project in January, setting an aggressive timeline that has been maintained throughout the selection process. The project encompasses not only the new entrance and Mona Lisa galleries but also significant restoration work on the historic palace. The total cost is estimated between 700 and 800 million euros over approximately ten years.
Financing for this massive undertaking will primarily come from the museum's own revenue sources, including increased ticket prices for foreign tourists, fundraising campaigns, and fees paid by international partners in exchange for Louvre services. Government funding will represent only a "very minor portion" of the total investment, with 10 million euros budgeted for initial studies in 2025. Both the Élysée Palace and the Ministry of Culture have emphasized that the state's financial contribution will remain minimal compared to private and institutional funding sources.
