Some buildings belong to a specific time period; they are built, marveled at, then slowly forgotten and eventaully replaced by something newer and more contemporary. Yet others stand to the test of time and come out victorious, even if they had been built as a temporary structure in the first place.
The Grand Palais de Champs-Elysees, or simply the Great Palace in English, is one building that belongs to the latter group. Itself built at the site of another structure with a rather similar purpose, the Palais de l'Industrie, the Grand Palais was originally intended to serve as an exhibition hall for the Universal Exposition of 1900 - the same global event that oversaw the construction of the ubiquitous Eiffel Tower as well as the Petit Palais across the street from itself. What set it apart from its predecessors, including the Palais de l'Industrie (an exhibition hall that stood for over 40 years before being demolished in 1897) and three older buildings built for earlier exhibitions such that it has remained a part of the Parisian landscape can obviously be linked to its architectural significance.
Built in the then-popular Beaux-Arts style, the Grand Palais is a prime example of the school, combining ornate decorations and a desire to try newer techniques in construction - the vaulted ceiling made of steel framed glass is one such technique. Due the Beaux-Arts school's heavily authoritarian approach to architecture, major buildings designed during this period carry a striking neoclassical flair - a return to roots of architecture as imposed by the Academie des Beaux-Arts. The building was to be symbol of French dedication to art in the new republic, both in its form and its function - the form was to inspire with its dedication to a new architectural understanding, while the function itself was to house artistic events in the coming century. So significant was the project that, after much deliberation, the winning architectural proposal was a combination of the ideas of four architects.
The building was designed to have a central span of 240 meters, spanned by a steel inlaid, vaulted glass ceiling that let natural light in during times when electricity was not yet a main staple of daily life. The exterior features a classical stone facade, along with art nouveau ironwork - yet again combining classical forms of architecture with new materials and ideas.As a testament to the connection of art and architecture, the Grand Palais continued to serve as a house for art exhibitions, in addition to exhibitions dedicated to technological advances - such as auto shows and aviation expos. All of these exhibitions took a toll on the structure however, as damage was sustained to the structure throughout the years. Added to this was the fact that certain construction choices - such as materials and location - did not yield favorable results, with sinking of the building, water seepage and loss of several glass panels among problematic results faced.
Grand Palais found other uses throughout its history, depending on the circumstances of the day. The palace was a military hospital during the World War I, and a German truck depot during World War II. During the French liberation, the palace was a center of Parisian resistance.Paris is a peculiar city - a city full of historical buildings in various architectural styles from different periods, all surprisingly coming together in harmony. To build a lasting structure of grand proportions in such a locale is a daunting task to say the least. Even more challenging is, to build such a structure from rather delicate materials like glass and still make it last for over a century. The Grand Palais is one such building, that not only outlasted its foreseen lifespan, but also made its mark on the banks of the river Seine. The proof of its timelessness is obvious from the simple fact that even Chanel still hosts its fashion shows in the building.
