Rocking the Boat.

Paris's Palais de Chaillot, home to the Musée national de la Marine (MNM), has recently reopened after a renovation by h2o architectes and Snøhetta. The architects faced the challenge of integrating new program into the historic galleries of the building, resulting in a design that emphasizes voids and creates a contrast between old and new. The renovation includes a low, dark entrance with hanging aluminum rods that generate a wave of light, a white and spacious Galerie Davioud with a barrel-vaulted inner shell, glass-fronted mezzanines, and ancillary facilities such as a restaurant and auditorium. While there are some awkward moments in the ancillary areas, the overall design successfully highlights the grandeur of the Galerie Davioud. [Extracted from the article]

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