Japanese architect Tadao Ando will transform Paris' former stock exchange - called Bourse de Commerce - into a new gallery and exhibition space for the French billionaire François Pinault - is one of the world’s top businessmen and art collectors and he also owns Christie’s - an auction house.

Developed with a local architecture firm Niney & Marca Architectes, a 32,000-square-foot (3,000 square-metre) gallery and exhibition space offer a cylindrical plan with stairwells and passageways to invite visitors from outside and to propose alternative spaces that will be used for different functions in next stages.

Image © Artefactorylab, courtesy of Collection Pinault, Paris

Situated between the Louvre Museum and the Pompidou Center by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, the €108M-budgeted ($121M) museum will house Mr. Pinault's 3,000-luxury-magnet collection, as well as an underground auditorium.  

Image © Artefactorylab, courtesy of Collection Pinault, Paris

Inspired by Rome's Pantheon, the plans will feature a soaring glass dome and elaborate frescoes set within a circular plan inside the historic rotunda. The scheme will also include a 300-seat auditorium that will be used for screenings, conferences, and concerts. A big black-box theater will house some interactive facilities such as video installations and more experimental performances.

Image © Artefactorylab, courtesy of Collection Pinault, Paris

"In creating this new museum, I am writing the next chapter of my cultural project, whose goal is to share my passion for contemporary art with as broad an audience as possible," said François Pinault.

"I thought that it should be up to me and my family to make the necessary efforts, and not to ask the state for funding," said Pinault - who has leased the building from Paris for 50 years.

Image © Artefactorylab, courtesy of Collection Pinault, Paris

Ground floor includes a reception area that will meet visitors directly from the entrance and a small exhibition space is situated in the first floor, taking place between the building's historic walls. All galleries are placed in the second floor, which are accessible from two main points. There will be restaurant and lounge areas for visitors within the building.

"The bourse de commerce is also an exquisite historic building. By nesting new spaces within it, while respecting the memories of the city engraved in its walls, I will transform the building’s entire interior into a space for contemporary art," said Tadao Ando. 

Exploded axonometric diagram for functions. Image courtesy of Collection Pinault, Paris

"The theme here, once again, is to create a building that connects the past with the present and the future."

"This cylinder will give shape to the central exhibition space under the cupola and encase the auditorium and foyer below ground," explained Ando.

Mr. Pinault holds many companies around the world, controlling famous fashion brands Gucci and Saint Laurent, among others and he has been trying to open a Parisian museum for decades.

East-West section. Image © Artefactorylab, courtesy of Collection Pinault, Paris

"This is a project that calls on the people to recall France's proud identity as a country of culture and art and to renew their hopes for the future," added Ando.

Construction work is expected to start in summer 2017 and the building is slated to open in early 2019. 

Sketch by Tadao Ando. Image courtesy of Collection Pinault, Paris

Sketch by Tadao Ando. Image courtesy of Collection Pinault, Paris

Top image © Artefactorylab, courtesy of Collection Pinault, Paris

> via Tadao Ando/Niney & Marca Architectes