Centre Pompidou, a deserted forecourt and a rare architectural view
Never before had I seen the forecourt of the Centre Pompidou this empty in broad daylight. That morning at 9:00 a.m., in an almost surreal silence, I was able to take three frontal and side architectural photographs of this iconic structure without a single person in the frame. A rare opportunity made possible by the building’s closure for renovation works since September 22, 2025.
A sleeping Centre Pompidou
Since moving to Paris in 1988, I have photographed the Centre Georges Pompidou many times, by day or night, in crowded or quiet moments. But November 18, 2025, was something different, not a single person on the forecourt, no pedestrians, no visitors, no activity whatsoever.
The Centre has been officially closed since September 22, 2025, for a five-year renovation project. This pause in the life of the museum, the library, and the surrounding public space has created a stillness that invites a more stripped-down approach to photography.
A technical approach to architectural photography
To capture the entire façade without distortion or converging verticals, I used my Canon TS-E 17mm f/4L tilt-shift lens. By shifting the lens upward while keeping the camera body level, using the built-in virtual horizon, I was able to correct the perspective and preserve the strict geometric layout of the building designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers.
A follow-up to the “Chenille” series
These three architectural views naturally complement the series dedicated to the Chenille, the spectacular transparent escalator tube that zigzags along the façade. Shot two years earlier, in November 2023, that series highlighted the building’s energy in motion, the night lighting, and the flow of visitors.
In contrast, this new series offers a strikingly quiet and graphical vision of the architecture, completely free of people and distractions.
The contrast between both series provides a layered reading of this major contemporary building: on one side, movement, light, and life, on the other, the bare structure revealed in a near-museum-like stillness, frozen as it awaits its rebirth.
Gallery
Photos taken on November 18, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., with the Canon TS-E 17mm lens, no people present.
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All the photos displayed on this website are copyright protected © Sebastien Desnoulez. No use allowed without written authorization.
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About the Author
Sebastien Desnoulez is a professional photographer specializing in architecture, landscape and travel photography. Trained in photography since the 1980s, he covered Formula 1 races and reported from around the globe before devoting himself to a more demanding fine art photography practice blending composition, light, and emotion. He shares his technical expertise through hands-on articles for passionate photographers, built on a solid background in film and digital photography.
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