Abinal & Ropars: From Paris, with love

In 2008, Édouard Ropars and Julien Abinal joined forces to found the architecture firm in Paris that bears both their names. Paris, the city of choice for both of them, was nevertheless the obvious place for them to settle; the city quickly became the main focus of their work but, even more so, its cultural landscape.

From their early projects for Parisian nightlife to the now-completed buildings that stand out in the Parisian landscape; from their connections to the worlds of contemporary creation to their equally contemporary ties to the actors and actresses shaping the city and its transformation, their practice seems to have crystallized between “extravagance and discipline,” to borrow the title of a beautiful critical essay on their work.

While they were among the first to reaffirm the obvious mineral quality of Parisian architecture, they never ceased to refine its execution, in a clear nod to the richness and beauty of their city. The theme of transformation at play here can be seen as the ultimate act of reintegrating a certain modern heritage—which had violently thrown it into crisis—back into the Parisian heritage.

A tribute to Paris, then: the exhibition will feature both projects that have been completed and those currently under construction here, as well as a parallel collection of major cultural projects conceived elsewhere— a cabinet of curiosities that seeks to trace the personal, cultural, intellectual, and professional journey of a contemporary architectural firm.

Guest artists: Stéphanie Nava, Yves Bélorgey, Olivier Campagne, Philippe Jarrigeon, Jacques Julien, Milo Keller, Laurent Kronental, and Natacha Lesueur.