Since the demolition in 1971 of the 19th-century pavilions designed by Victor Baltard for the central markets, the area of Halles has been through various building stages, some rather tormented. Now, with the grand architectural gesture of the Canopy, the work of two French architects has given new meaning from an urban point of view to this central place, resolving the complexity of its social, cultural and infrastructural functions.

The new building for this important contemporary art gallery is a condensation of all the formal precision and compositional balance that the young Brazilian office Metro has developed by working on different types of projects.

Come to design almost by chance after studying mechanical engineering and in love with industry – “it’s noisy, it creates sparks, it produces big numbers and it keeps the price down, if possible” – Odo Fioravanti’s design focuses closely on parts that will always be hidden from sight because “the designer’s purpose is to hide beauty in everyday objects”.