Louvre Pyramid and La Pyramide Inversée, Louvre, Paris, France (1993)

The pyramid used as an entrance in the Louvre's courtyard has the exact same proportions as the Great Pyramid of Giza. The choice of this figure also serves as a reminder of the importance of the Egyptian antiquities collection inside the museum, as does the Obelisk in Place de la Concorde not far from there, the other side of the Jardin des Tuileries. At its base, the pyramid measures116 feet wide and 70 feet high. 95 tons of steel and 105 tons of aluminum support the structure. The main pyramid is accompanied by three smaller ones. They have been positioned to create light shafts for access to the museum’s collections. Lastly, the inverted pyramid is the one visible from underground, when you use the Carrousel entrance to the Louvre. In the proper sense, it is an upside down, suspended pyramid. The glass panes of the pyramids are made up of diamonds and triangles. This mixture creates the triangular form in irregular proportions, which creates the appearance of cut jewels.

After nearly 25 years of existence, the glass and steel pyramid that serves as the Louvre’s main entrance is one of I.M. Pei’s seminal works. Not only was it a practical design, alleviating congestion in the galleries and allowing the museum to expand its collection, this landmark project has become synonymous with both the museum and the city of Paris.

Ieoh Ming Pei FAIA RIBA was a Chinese-American architect. Raised in Shanghai, Pei drew inspiration at an early age from the garden villas at Suzhou, the traditional retreat of the scholar-gentry to which his family belonged

With the pyramid, the Louvre Museum took on a new dimension, becoming a national and international reference. Yet it was a project that sparked hatred from the general public. François Mitterrand was even suspected of playing a pharaoh by announcing its construction by the Chinese-American architect without organizing a competition, despite his glowing resume as the brain behind a new wing for the Washington National Gallery of Art.

Nowadays, the pyramid is loved by visitors and Parisians alike. It fits perfectly with the palace and has even become a tourist attraction in its own right. The work also involved renovation of the facades and gave the Louvre a real facelift. It is not unusual to see passers-by taking photos in front of the pyramid. More than just an entrance in the palace courtyard, the great pyramid has become a symbol of the Louvre.

The Louvre Inverted Pyramid is a skylight constructed in the Carrousel du Louvre, an underground shopping mall in front of the Louvre Museum in France. It may be thought of as a smaller sibling of the more famous Louvre Pyramid proper yet turned upside down: its upturned base is easily seen from outside.

The crystalline structure, a perfect juxtaposition against the museum’s French Renaissance style, matches the proportions of the famous Pyramids of Giza. Standing 22 meters high (72 feet) with 30-meter (98-meter) sloping sides, the pyramid invites visitors underground to explore this historic museum.