Cité Internationale - congress center and offices

Cité Internationale - congress center and offices
Architect: Renzo Piano
Address: 50 quai Charles de Gaulle, Lyon, France
Contest:1985
Project:1989
Completion:1990-2006


The Cité Internationale is one of Greater Lyons’ boldest projects come true. The goal was to build a town-like international complex where business, culture, time-out attractions and residential districts could thrive.
The site spans 20 hectares and bends around its two natural landmarks (the Rhone and the Parc de la Tête d’Or). The architecture and public areas are likewise remarkable – courtesy of one of today’s top architects, Renzo Piano, and landscaper Michel Corajoud.
This Cité is right by the city’s northeastern gates, and a generous choice of means of transportation will get you there. The Genoese architect’s gifted hand sprinkled this Cité it with weightless, see-through pavilions reminiscing 19th-century greenhouses.
The trail takes visitors to the Musée d’Art Contemporain, Palais des Congrès, UGC Ciné Cité, offices, hotel, restaurants, residential neighborhood and public gardens. Extension work on the Centre de Congrès – part of a drive to turn Greater Lyons into a top European business-tourist destination – began in 2003.
The Grand Amphithéâtre has put the Cité Internationale in an entirely new league. It was inaugurated on 1 June 2006. The extension has tripled the Centre de Congrès’ area (from 8170m² to 25000m²) and capacity (from 6500 to 19000 people). The modular Amphitheatre – designed based on its Gallo-Roman precursors – seats between 900 and 3220 guests. 10 new meeting rooms (spanning 1500m²). A 5400m² exhibition venue (the Nouveau Forum). This amphitheatre was the extension work’s main focus, and can host any of a variety of large-scale events ranging from international conventions to mass popular gatherings.
The 180° open semicircle with no partitions between the stage, seats and doors resembles a stadium or circus rather than an Italian theatre. The original design alone is remarkable, as indeed does the equipment rivaling that of the Berlin Philharmonic or Madison Square Garden.
This eminently modular venue was designed to bend into any of a wide variety of configurations. It is a convention center, but so much more, too: it is a place designed for the people, and to host concerts, operas, musicals, and more.
The 4000m² public square opening out onto the Tête d'Or park, before the Amphitheatre and at the end of the Rue Intérieure (the high street), will be the Cité Internationale’s hub tomorrow.
CCC Lyon
0 comments
add comment

more buildings from Renzo Piano