Colonnes de Buren
The Colonnes de Buren were commissioned by the French Ministry of Culture in 1986 to “enhance” the Cour d’Honneur of the Palais-Royal and were created by the sculptor Daniel Buren.
They are officially called Deux Plateaux (Two Plateaus), because their base is located in the courtyard’s subterranean level. Thus situated on ‘two levels’, they symbolise the connection between the street level and the subterranean depths of Paris, they connect the past, present, and future of Parisian history.
The Colonnes de Buren comprise a set of 260 striated columns, made of white Carrara marble from Italy and black marble from the French Pyrenees. These columns, of varying heights and truncated shapes, all feature uniform 8.7 cm wide striations.
Controversial artwork
The Colonnes de Buren are arranged in rows, transforming the 3,000 square metres of the Cour d’Honneur into a vast grid-like space.
Unsurprisingly, their installation sparked considerable and ongoing controversy!
Many critics believed (and still do) their presence detracted from the beauty of the Palais-Royal, which is listed as a historical monument. Thus, the columns were installed hastily, and their inauguration went largely unnoticed.
In less than ten years, water infiltration problems and deterioration of the subsoil have worsened their condition, prompting protests from Daniel Buren in 2007, who deplored their state of “advanced disrepair.”
The Ministry of Culture then devised a devious strategy to obtain the necessary funding for their restoration. It listed the columns as a historical monument to benefit from public funds despite public opposition!
The restoration project, initiated in 2008, cost a total of €5.3 million. However, the Eiffage Group contributed €500,000 as a sponsor. The restoration work included resurfacing the courtyard, modernising the electrical system, and installing a new water supply network.
After fifteen months of work, the Colonnes de Buren were officially inaugurated on January 8, 2010. Since then, they have undergone constant and regular restoration to ensure their preservation!
Directions: 1st district – Palais-Royal
Metro: Louvre-Palais-Royal on Lines 1 and 7
Coordinates: Lat 48.863661 – Long 2.337253
