Updated March 29, 2024 at 12:30 p.m.
The Louvre pyramid was inaugurated on this day in 1989, after nearly four years of construction.
Get This Happened straight to your inbox ✉️ each day! Sign up here.
Who designed the Louvre pyramid?
The Louvre pyramid was designed by the Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei. The pyramid is made of glass and steel, and consists of 603 rhombus-shaped and 70 triangular glass segments.
What was the purpose of building the Louvre pyramid?
The purpose of building the Louvre pyramid was to provide a new entrance to the museum, which would accommodate the growing number of visitors and improve access to the museum's collections.
Was the Louvre Pyramid controversial?
Some critics argued that the pyramid clashed with the historic architecture of the Louvre, while others praised its modernist design. It has become a landmark of its own in the years since, with most appreciating the way it integrates into the much older setting.