Page 169 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

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Light Screens
The south elevation is made up of 1,600 high-tech metal screens
that filter the light entering the building. Their design is based on
moucharabiyahs (carved wooden screens found on the outsides
of buildings from Morocco to Southeast Asia).

Each screen contains 21 irises which are
controlled electronically, opening and
closing in response to the amount of
sunlight falling on photosensitive screens.

The central iris is made up of
interlocking metal blades which move
to adjust the size of the central opening.

The peripheral irises are linked to
one another and to the central iris.
They open and close in unison
forming a delicate pattern of light
and shade inside the institute.

The displays in the vivarium Action towards its restoration constellation of The Pleiades)
(enclosures of live animals began with the campaigning used to meet in the 16th
in their natural habitat) are of Victor Hugo (among others) century. Four hundred years
changed at regular intervals, in the 19th century but work later, authors such as Ernest
and there is a permanent did not get really underway Hemingway, James Joyce and
exhibition of micro-arthropods until 1918. George Orwell also found the
(also known as creepy-crawlies!) With a seating capacity of streets of this historically
15,000, arranged in 35 tiers, the working-class neighbourhood
original arena was used both for a great source of inspiration.
4 Arènes de Lutèce theatrical performances and as The area has always been
an amphitheatre for gladiator used for meetings and festivals.
49–59 Rue Monge/4 Rue des Arènes
75005. Map 17 B1. Tel 01 45 35 02 fights. This type of combined use Today, it still embodies old Paris,
56. q Jussieu, Cardinal Lemoine. was peculiar to Gaul (France), with its narrow cobblestone
Open hours vary, but usually and the arena is similar to the streets and charming cafés, and
8/9am–6pm, depending on the other ones in Nîmes and Arles. is very lively at weekends.
time of year.
The remains of this vast Roman 5 Place de la
arena (Lutetia was the Roman Contrescarpe
name for Paris) date from the
late 1st century (see p23). Its 75005. Map 17 B1. q Place Monge.
destruction began towards the
end of the 3rd century at the At one time, this site lay outside
hands of the Barbarians, and the city walls. It gets its name
later, parts of it were used to from the backfilling of the moat
build the walls of the Ile de la that ran along Philippe-Auguste’s
Cité. The arena was then wall. The present square was laid
gradually buried and its exact out in 1852, but the small
location preserved only in old fountain was added in 1994.
documents and the local At No. 1, there is a memorial
name Clos des Arènes. It was plaque to the old “pine-cone
rediscovered in 1869 during club” immortalized in the
the construction of the Rue writings of Rabelais; here, a
Monge and the allocation group of writers known as Part of the medieval city wall near Place de
of building plots nearby. La Pléiade (named after the la Contrescarpe

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