Arab World Institute, Cultural center and museum in 5th arrondissement, France.
The Arab World Institute building features geometric patterns with motorized diaphragms on its southern facade that control natural light throughout the structure.
France partnered with eighteen Arab nations to establish this institution in 1980, with construction completed in 1987 under President François Mitterrand's administration.
The institute maintains extensive collections of Islamic art and hosts exhibitions, performances, workshops, and educational programs focused on Arab civilization and contemporary expressions.
The institute welcomes visitors from Tuesday through Friday between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM, while weekend hours extend until 7:00 PM, with access via metro lines 7 and 10.
The building's north facade incorporates mirrored glass panels that reflect the Seine River and surrounding Parisian landscape, creating a visual dialogue between European and Arab architectural elements.
Location: 5th arrondissement of Paris
Inception: November 30, 1987
Architects: Jean Nouvel, Architecture-Studio
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Fee: Yes
Opening Hours: Monday off; Tuesday-Friday 10:00-18:00; Saturday-Sunday,Holidays 10:00-19:00
Phone: +33140513838
Website: http://imarabe.org
GPS coordinates: 48.84890,2.35704
Latest update: November 22, 2025 17:42
Paris has reshaped its architectural landscape over recent decades by constructing distinctly contemporary buildings. La Défense's Grande Arche extends the city's historic axis, while Frank Gehry's Louis Vuitton Foundation unfurls its glass sails in Bois de Boulogne. The François Mitterrand Library rises with four towers shaped like open books along the Seine, symbolizing a confident embrace of modernity. However, Paris architecture is not limited to recent constructions. The city has reinvented old structures: La Samaritaine, a department store in Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles, was restored to its former glory after a lengthy renovation. The former Bercy wine warehouses have become a lively shopping district, the Viaduc des Arts hosts artisan workshops beneath its 19th-century arches, and the Centquatre turned a municipal funeral home into a cultural center. These renovations demonstrate how Paris combines heritage preservation with adaptation to contemporary functions.
Jean Nouvel is among the most recognized French architects of our time. His work spans five continents, including museums, office towers, concert halls, and residential complexes. Each project demonstrates his ability to combine technical innovation with respect for the local context, whether through material choices, light manipulation, or integration into the existing urban fabric. Among his major works, the Louvre Abu Dhabi features a perforated dome that creates a shower of light, while the Glòries Tower in Barcelona rises with its cylindrical shape and colorful facades. In Paris, the Arab World Institute has a façade equipped with mechanical diaphragms inspired by Islamic art, and the Philharmonie updates concert hall architecture with its silver volumes. Beyond Europe and the Middle East, his projects extend to Sydney with One Central Park and its hanging gardens, or Fort Worth with a museum surrounded by water basins. These buildings provide the opportunity to explore architecture that interacts with its environment and challenges conventions. Each visit allows appreciation of how architectural creativity can transform our relationship with urban and cultural spaces.
The Latin Quarter is one of the oldest parts of Paris and preserves traces from over two thousand years of history. Roman remains like the Arènes de Lutèce recall the ancient settlement of Lutetia, while medieval churches such as Saint-Étienne-du-Mont and Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre document the religious past. The Sorbonne and the Collège de France have made the district a center of learning since the Middle Ages, and institutions like the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève continue this academic tradition. The Musée de l'Histoire de la Médecine traces the development of medicine, the Musée Curie honors the scientific discoveries of Marie and Pierre Curie, and the Musée des Arts du Moyen Âge displays medieval art within the ruins of Roman baths. Narrow streets lead to squares like Place de la Contrescarpe and Place de l'Estrapade, where locals gather in cafés and markets. The Marché de la Rue Mouffetard is one of the city's oldest street markets and offers fresh produce daily. Literary and artistic traces appear at the Maison de Serge Gainsbourg, the historic jazz cellar Le Caveau de la Huchette, and cafés like Le Procope, which has welcomed writers and thinkers since the 17th century. The Jardin des Plantes combines botanical collections with the Musée de Minéralogie, while the Square René-Viviani provides a quiet view of Notre-Dame with its ancient tree. The Grande Mosquée de Paris and the Institut du Monde Arabe add North African and Arab perspectives to the cultural offerings.
Banks of the Seine
182 m
Quai de Béthune
193 m
Hôtel de Comans d'Astry
196 m
Hôtel Lefebure de la Malmaison
199 m
Stèle
207 m
Interpénétration des deux espaces
196 m
Animal 82
182 m
Abellio
191 m
Cœur de gaucho
155 m
The Labyrinth
167 m
Belt II
189 m
Fiesole
166 m
Shining Wings
172 m
Bibliothèque de l'Institut du monde arabe
9 m
Petit Musée de la table
175 m
Fountain
180 m
Scenic viewpoint
28 m
Paralum (Mosaïque) de Vasarely
111 m
Mosaïque et bassin d'André Baudoin
141 m
Cœur de Gaucho
129 m
PA_1241
118 m
PA_1365
198 m
Work of art, sculpture
207 m
Work of art, sculpture
190 m
Work of art, sculpture
198 m
Sculpture, Work of art
195 m
Memorial, commemorative plaque, information board
195 m
Memorial, commemorative plaque, information board
199 mReviews
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Wonderful museum that highlights the Arab world through very beautiful temporary exhibitions. The building itself is worth a visit, just steps away from the Seine.
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