Click Images to Enlarge

The design for the Centre Nationale d'Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou was selected after a competition in 1971. The winners were the young practice of, and then unknown Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano, along with engineers Ove Arup. The building had many critics upon completion but is now universally hailed as one of the masterworks of "high tech" architecture. The building has its services and structure on the exterior to allow for larger exhibition spaces. The rising escalators along the exterior have some of the best views in Paris.