The National Museum of Public Works
The Conseil Economique, Social and Environnemental or CESE – Economic, Social and Environmental Council is located in the Palais d’Iéna, an architectural masterpiece designed by Auguste Perret.
The building was originally constructed to house the National Museum of Public Works for the International Exposition of Arts and Techniques of Modern Life, which took place from May 25 to November 25, 1937. The museum’s purpose was to display models of dams and bridges, illustrating the progress made in infrastructure and civil engineering.
Although the museum was officially inaugurated in March 1939, only the wing facing Avenue d’Iéna was completed at that time; the rest of the building was still under construction. This wing was listed as a historical monument in 1993.
However, the outbreak of the Second World War delayed the completion of the main building and its iconic rotunda, which houses the 300-seat conference hall, known as the Hémicycle, until 1943. Unfortunately, despite its impressive architecture and purpose, the museum closed in 1955 due to a lack of interest.
The Art Deco Palais d’Iéna
The hemicycle was opened in 1956 and became the seat of the Assembly of the French Union.
The Palais d’Iéna is renowned for its 300-seat conference hall and the magnificent horseshoe-shaped staircase in the entrance hall.
In 1962, architect Paul Vimond expanded the Palais d’Iéna with a new wing facing Avenue Wilson, which housed the Western European Union until its dissolution in 2011.
The most recent wing is the one facing Avenue Albert-de-Mun. Designed by architect Gilles Bouchez, it was completed in 1995.
Conseil Economique, Social et Environnemental
Edouard Herriot founded the Conseil Economique (Economic Council) in 1924, whose meetings were initially held in a wing of the Palais-Royal. The Economic Council moved to the Palais d’Iéna in 1959 and was renamed the Conseil Economique et Social (Economic and Social Council). On July 23, 2008, its remit was expanded to include environmental advice, leading to its renaming as the Conseil Economique, Social et Environnemental (Economic, Social and Environmental Council). This national institution brings together representatives of employers, trade unions, and associations. Its role, however, is purely advisory: it formulates recommendations on various socio-economic and environmental issues.
16th district – 9 Place d’Iéna
Metro: Iéna on Line 9
Coordinates: Lat 48.864115 – Long 2.292825
Photo via Wikimedia Commons: Hemicycle by Tiraden CC BY-SA 3.0
