Five years after work began, France’s National Air and Space Museum has opened the doors of its new Grand Gallery. Babak Taghvaee takes a tour and finds a unique collection set in stunning surroundings
On December 14 last year, the Musée de l’air et de l’espace (Air and Space Museum) on the southwest side of Paris’ Le Bourget Airport, unveiled the result of five years’ renovation work in what is dubbed the Grande Galerie or Grand Gallery. Located within the art deco surroundings of the site’s historic terminal building, exhibits include revolutionary gliders, balloons, paintings and sculptures. As museum director Anne-Catherine Robert-Hauglustaine reveals: “The refurbished gallery sits in the original terminal of France’s first ever airport – history in itself. As such, the clocks indicate time zones around the world and the ‘Departure’ and ‘Arrival’ panels have regained lettering from the 1930s. The building was designed by architect Georges Labro in 1937 and is a stunningly spacious, light and airy setting, which help visitors take a unique journey back in time.”
Historic cache
Split between ‘Pioneers of the Air’ and ‘The Great War’, 12 of the airframes currently on display underwent restoration as…
