Louvre Pyramid 

Architect: I. M. Pie 

In 1983 French president Francois Mitterrand commissioned a Chinese born American architect I. M. Pie to rejuvenate and modernize the worn and aging museum. As one can imagine, the French people did not initially receive this design with open arms. In some instances, the local papers would mock the design with comical cartoons portraying the whole city trapped underneath a giant glass pyramid. I.M. drew his inspiration for the design from a French designer Andre Le Norte.  

Pei’s main idea was to build an underground welcoming reception area that would allow guests access to the museum’s collections, improve the navigation through the complex improving on the existing design in which several guests have gotten lost in. The entrance to this underground reception area would be in the middle of the courtyard topped with the giant glass pyramid. Truly transparent glass was used in the construction of the pyramid as to not distract from the main attraction, the Grand Louver. 

Source: 

(n.d.). Retrieved July 24, 2020, from https://www.architectmagazine.com/awards/aia-honor-awards/louvre-pyramid-the-folly-that-became-a-triumph_o