9 plâtre

More than a century separates the work of Dutch architect Rem K oolhaas from that of French architect Samuel Menjot de Dammartin, who erected the building at 9 rue du Plâtre in Paris in 1891. The new creation by Rem Koolhaas, co-founder of the architectural firm OMA and winner of the 2000 Pritzker Prize, is nested in the courtyard of this building constructed during the Industrial Revolution. This former warehouse in the Marais district, built for the needs of the nearby Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville department store, has been converted into a production and exhibition machine for Lafayette Anticipations - Fondation d'entreprise Galeries Lafayette. From the initial discussions with OMA and its think tank AMO in 20 12, to the final weeks of construction in autumn 2017, the book 9 Plâtre looks back at the many stages involved in creating a building that will serve as a tool for supporting, producing and presenting the artworks of its time. In an interview, Rem Koolhaas discusses the conceptual, artistic, social and political considerations that determined the architecture of his first building in Paris, while photographic works by Bas Princen offer an attentive view of the space's successive transformations. 9 Plâtre is a manifesto that sets out the principles of an art space open to the city and to all visitors. It marks the beginning of an art programme bringing together ideas and practices.