MANILA, Philippines?The Louvre Museum in Paris is the biggest and most visited art museum in the world. Its collection of approximately 35,000 pieces is exhibited over 60,000-square-meter floor area. Among the many famous collections in the museum are Venus de Milo and Leonardo da Vinci?s Mona Lisa.

The museum, of French Renaissance style, is situated within the Louvre Palace which was built on a site previously occupied by a fortress constructed in 1190 under Philip II.

The Louvre has a long history of planning, building and reconstruction that spans over eight centuries. Starting as a fortress, it was eventually transformed into a palace until the establishment of absolutist rule led to the sudden transfer of the court to Versailles, and finally in 1793 the Louvre became the prototype of the modern art museum.

In 1983, President François Mitterand commissioned architect I. M. Pei to renovate the building to accommodate the huge number of daily visitors to the museum. It was also part of the French president?s 15-billion-franc program to provide a series of modern monuments to symbolize France?s central role in art, politics and world economy at the end of the 20th century.

Brilliant solution

Architect I. M. Pei?s brilliant solution is both simple and daring. Simple because it meant not altering the existing museum?s structure and daring because it meant hollowing out its plaza and constructing underground linkages to its existing wings. The entrance to this underground expansion is through a huge glass pyramid located in the central courtyard. It is about 70 feet high with the sides of the square base about 115 feet.

The design concept triggered a controversy. Critics felt the ultramodern design of the glass pyramid with its steel connections and rods, was in stark contrast to the classical architecture of the Louvre. But then Paris is no stranger to such controversies since the now famous Eiffel Tower was also at the center of a controversy when it was first proposed.

Today, the Louvre Museum, as an iconic landmark of France, continues to be the most popular tourist attraction since its opening on Oct. 15, 1988.

Environmentally-sensitive design

Excavating the plaza and constructing underground linkages to the existing wings of the museum, was a respectful gesture to the existing classical structure.

Instead of a conventional building constructed above ground which might draw attention away from the original museum, the new underground complex remains low key while providing the necessary additional space required by the project. By building underground the land is also efficiently used by maintaining the open space above.

Energy conservation

From the underground lobby which is bathed in natural light, the movement of people is efficiently handled as the reception area acts as a navigation landmark or focal point for visitors. Natural light brought in through the glass pyramid reduces the use of energy while providing a dramatic view of the sky and the outline of the buildings around the courtyard.

To protect artworks such as classical sculptures, existing courtyards are covered with glass skylights and refurbished with landscaping. The atmosphere is that of an enclosed garden complemented with artworks.

Centralized distribution point

The underground construction also creates a centralized distribution point for the huge complex.

Visitors use it as a meeting area or as a starting point to check their bearings before moving on to the different galleries and wings.

An added bonus that surfaced in the process of excavating the plaza in preparation for the construction of the underground museum was the discovery that the site once contained a moat that was land filled by King François in 1528, thus sealing in thousands of objects that were used for more than seven centuries by Parisians.

Enough objects were uncovered to fill two or three museums.

Why build underground?

Underground construction, while admittedly not the best solution for most projects, is an excellent option for sensitive areas like historic districts where new space is required while preserving existing buildings and development.

The issue of utilization of underground space is part of an urban regeneration that is being done in some countries today. It encourages sustainable development as the need for external finishes like cladding is eliminated, and results in the efficient use of materials.

Underground construction also protects people from extreme weather conditions, as in the case of temperate countries like Korea where underground malls are interconnected with subways and hotels above ground.

In Japan, huge underground cisterns are used for storm water storage in case of heavy rainfall to prevent runoff and flooding.

Underground construction is not cheap and many unforeseen ground conditions may affect adjacent properties during construction. These difficulties can be overcome by proper planning and geotechnical studies. Costs may be offset however by expensive land value and cost of building preservation.

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