Carré d'Art

This book examines the Carrée d''Art project, a modern library of art and technology inspired by an ancient Roman temple in the French city of Nimes. Located across the street from one of Nimes'' most distinctive Roman antiquities, the Roman Maison Carrée, sits the Carrée d''Art, a media library that also houses an impressive art gallery. Designed by the renowned architect Norman Foster, the Carrée d''Art draws from the antiquity of its namesake while ingeniously interacting with the contemporary demands of an urban environment. The result is an urban space, lined with cafés and thronged with people, that has breathed new life into Nimes'' social and cultural atmosphere. Filled with photographs, sketches, plans, and commentary on the building''s conception and design, this book illustrates how a building project, backed by an enlightened urban planning initiative, can provide a catalyst for reinvigorating the fabric of a city.