Pavillon de l'Esprit Nouveau, Modernist exhibition pavilion in Paris, France
The Pavillon de l'Esprit Nouveau was an exhibition hall made of concrete with geometric forms, open floor plans, and undecorated surfaces. Inside, visitors saw practical furniture arrangements and examples of innovations in household objects, building techniques, and industrial production.
The pavilion was built in 1925 for an international design exhibition that brought together new trends from around the world. It was demolished after the event and no longer stands today.
The pavilion represented a direct rejection of handcrafted decoration and ornament that dominated design at the time. Instead, it showed how industrial production could create beautiful, functional objects for ordinary people.
Since the structure no longer exists, visitors cannot see it directly, but historical photographs and information are available in nearby museums and collections. Those interested in learning about the exhibition and its design philosophy can find abundant material online and in books.
The pavilion unusually preserved a living tree within its concrete structure, creating a striking contrast between industrial design and nature. This choice showed that modern functionality could coexist with the natural world.
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