Pyramid of the Louvre facts for kids
The Louvre Pyramid is a famous glass and metal pyramid in Paris, France. It stands in the main courtyard of the Louvre Museum, which is a very well-known art museum. This large pyramid was designed by a Chinese-American architect named I.M. Pei. It was finished in 1989 and quickly became a symbol of Paris. The main pyramid is the entrance for visitors to the museum. There are also three smaller pyramids nearby.
Building the Pyramid
Why the Pyramid Was Built
The President of France, François Mitterrand, asked I.M. Pei to design this pyramid in 1984. The old entrance to the Louvre Museum was too small. It could not handle the huge number of visitors coming every day. So, the pyramid and a big area underground were built. This new entrance helps people get into the museum much more easily. Visitors go down into a large lobby and then can go into the different museum buildings.
How It Was Made
The Louvre Pyramid is made completely of glass pieces and metal poles. It stands about 21.6 meters (71 feet) tall. Its base is a square, with each side being 34 meters (112 feet) long. The base covers an area of about 1,000 square meters (10,764 square feet). The pyramid has 603 diamond-shaped glass pieces. It also has 70 triangular glass pieces.
Engineers from Montreal and Paris helped build the pyramid. The construction company Vinci built the pyramid's base and the underground lobby. Other museums have used a similar idea for their entrances. For example, the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago has a similar design.
Images for kids
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The large glass pyramid seen at night
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The large glass pyramid seen by day
