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| Facade of Hotel de la Marine in Paris |
In line with the attention to the architectural heritage, a cross both implicit in many of the items this blog, the controversy over the use by a private operator of the magnificent Hôtel de la Marine in Paris, the neoclassical architect Gabriel, can not be ignored in this forum and consequently in this case we must warn against these new governmental experiments aimed to put in the hands of private economic corporations certain public monuments in the lee of the current economic crash.
financial difficulties soften the natural rejection of national public opinion and ultimately doomed until unprecedented and unlikely scenarios as the invasion of advertising banners in privileged built environment, so far banned for this, as of a famous brand of watches hung on the very fractious Bridge of Sighs in the city of Venice.
financial difficulties soften the natural rejection of national public opinion and ultimately doomed until unprecedented and unlikely scenarios as the invasion of advertising banners in privileged built environment, so far banned for this, as of a famous brand of watches hung on the very fractious Bridge of Sighs in the city of Venice.
Translation of article in
Le Figaro, January 7, 2011
Many celebrities, among which is former President Valery Giscard d'Estaing , are opposed to the eighteenth century building can be passed on to a private company. Do you weigh feeling like a slab of French decadence in front of the necessary budgetary discipline? Convinced that the concession to a private company Old Navy hotel, former Garde-Meuble real located on the Place de la Concorde is a symbol of this decadence, a number of personalities has decided to take action. Instigated by Olivier de Rohan, president of the association that aims to protect the hotel, historians, sailors, scholars, or the same Valéry Giscard d'Estaing try to defend, against all odds, "the integrity of the Hotel de la Marine."
recently under cover of anonymity, some members of Staff of the Navy has made known his "concern" about the future of this building, built by the architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel in the eighteenth century and since then has hosted of Staff of the French Navy. Rumor has spread around Paris that the Minister of Defence, Alain Juppe, "would be embarrassed" by this turn of events. While the Minister has never officially declared, and their environment is emphasized that the Ministry of Defence does not own the hotel, and therefore is not involved in the record, the rumor continues to insist: Alain Juppe would be against granting public building to a private operator, especially if the latter has as a project to transform it into a luxury hotel.
Although never "sign any petition," the former president, Valery Giscard d ' Estaing, has done on this occasion, an exception. Said: "I signed for the state to preserve the monument, although it is possible to understand that the State is obliged to dispose of buildings whose maintenance is a heavy fiscal burden, property interest must prevail."
hotel is occupied by about 1000 sailors, who must lift the barracks by the year 2014 to join the new center of defense. Too expensive to maintain (some 20,000 m²) will be leased by the State to a private operator, which freely manage its operation. Potential candidates have until the end of January to present the rehabilitation project. For now known single nomination, raised by businessman Alexandre Allard. This proposal presents a mix of art galleries and luxury hotels and private pool, reacted to the defenders of heritage. "I am against any commercial use of State property," says the historian Max Gallo, while former Ambassador Jean-François Parot believes that "the nation must not liquidate their heritage." "The French would not understand" they say, insisting on one of the most sensitive aspects of this matter.
An eighteenth century museum
In the vast building, comprising more than 500 rooms, a basement, two patios, a staircase built by Soufflot. The Banquet in honor of Napoleon III along with an office wing. This classified and, therefore, very expensive to rehabilitate. Hence the decision, made by François Baroin, Minister of the Budget, and the prime minister is that of leasing to a private operator for a long period of time. "But where will we all in a hundred years?" Challenges the academic Jean-Marie Rouart. For him, "from the time the President wants to make a home in the history of France, is a fundamental contradiction that is not respect a place that embodies precisely that story." The scholar argues that the hotel is transformed into a museum of the eighteenth century, which would be feasible for the rich furnishings of that era.
In the coming days, will hold yet another meeting in a chair. Meeting should not appease the "opposition" but it would be to extend the deadlines for proposals to be submitted to allow other candidates, and create a monitoring committee could be led by Senator UMP Alberic de Montgolfier. "In the end it will be Nicolas Sarkozy who settled the argument" sentences the environment Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.
Other links
appel à projets pour A l'hôtel de la Marine
L'avenir incertain de l'hôtel de la Marine
Du patrimoine en danger et un à la Française Pentagone
A contrario see the last blog entry of liberal Arnaud Dassier
doublespeak
About deValéry Giscard d'Estaing heritage:
Hôtel de la Marine: le Canard épingle (encore) Giscard
Selon Le Canard enchaîné, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing aurait obtenu deux domestiques aux frais supplémentaires de la République
And on the most likely postpone a decision by a committee chaired by former French president, who along with the members who compose , are mostly opposed to the project:
Valoris l'Hôtel Navy by a private actor?
