Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Le Kiosque des Noctambules



The"Kiosque des Noctambules" is the name of this subway entrance for the "Palais Royal" stop on Place Colette right in front of the Comédie Française theater. 
It has been designed by an artist called Jean-Michel Othoniel in 2000 to commemorate the 100th aniversary of the Paris subway. It consists of two domes, one representing night, the other day, made of chunks of colored glass intertwined with aluminum, giving the effect of jeweled crowns.

Like the pyramid in the Louvre, this modern entrance for the subway on an old and classic square created controversy but I like it. Do you ? 

11 comments:

glduro_marieloupe said...

Wow! We have pictures here when we were in Paris in 2001! We are glad to know that was maintained. It is beautiful and interesting!

Merci, Laurent!

Hilda said...

Wow. This is probably the most elaborate subway entrance I've ever seen!

I like beads and baubles, but this is a little too much, I think. I like the fence composed of circles with colored glass in just a few of them. A little more subdued.


Not that our opinions would matter… :D

Makes for great conversation, at least!

glduro_marieloupe said...

Laurent! Thanks to joined us in our blog! Glad to have you there!

marieloupe

Virginia said...

OH YES I love this one. I captured 3 cute teenagers right there that posed for me. This is an amazing site to walk up on! Since I was there in November, I thought it some type of Christmas decoration at first.
V

henny said...

Very much like it. The design is classic I think. It does fit the square. My two cents.

Harriet said...

YES, I like it. It adds "un je ne sais quoi" to this Metro stop.

I can see why there was a controversy --- I, too, love the art deco/art nouveau Metro signs, but I love this one as well.

Thank you for giving the history of this design which explains why I didn't see it on my first trip to Paris in 1999.

VP said...

No, I don't like it very much, but I can't see how it could disturb anybody.

Prospero said...

Bonjour, Laurent. I've not been to Paris since I was very young. I like your Pompidou/Eiffel tower shot. And this subway shot looks very festive. Merveilleux.

Ursel said...

What a great entrance. Let's step into the kingdom of the underground.

Nadege said...

It is an interesting entrance. I would have to see it in person to make up my mind. I will be in France in July for 3 weeks but I land at CDG, take another plan 2 hours later for Toulouse (the same on the way back).

valeria said...

It's beautiful indeed! I know this spot quite well, including the lovely cafè on the back...