Since the last significant expansion of one of the largest museums in the world, a quarter of a century will soon have passed. The Glass Pyramid marking the new entrance to the courtyard of the former residence of French kings elicited a stormy reaction at that time. Over the years, this iconic structure by American architect Ieoh Ming Pei has become an inseparable part of the entire museum. French architect Rudy Ricciotti and Italian designer Mario Bellini completed their joint design for the roofing of the Cour Visconti castle courtyard last Wednesday, which will house the Islamic art collections, where a collection of 18,000 art objects from Spain to India should be placed. The stunning glass roof resembles a flowing silk scarf or a rippling carpet hovering above the courtyard covering 3,500 m². The carpet, weighing 150 tons, is made up of two thousand glass triangles attached from above and below to a triangular bronze mesh, which, in addition to its load-bearing function, also serves to shade sensitive exhibits in the lower two floors. Mario Bellini, a legend of Italian design, adds about the project: “The Visconti Courtyard will not be stopped but will remain readable. The new structure seeks to integrate contemporary architecture into this historical site in a light and unobtrusive manner.” While Pei's pyramid cost 16 million dollars, Bellini's Islamic wing has already amounted to 126 million, a significant portion of which was covered by a Saudi prince. However, 12 million is still needed for the complete completion of the project this summer.
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