Camille is 22. Her friend Laura is 21. During their studies at the Institut Catholique de Paris, they often visited the BPI, located in the Centre Pompidou, in the heart of Paris, about thirty minutes away. But since March 2nd, they had to move the library to revise their lessons.
For nearly half a century, the Centre Pompidou has stood as one of Paris’s most audacious architectural statements—an inside-out marvel of pipes, glass, and escalators that houses a vast cultural ecosystem. But come September 2025, this icon of modern art will fall silent for five long years as it undergoes an extensive renovation. The closure is a seismic shift for the institution, but its repercussions extend far beyond the museum’s walls.
For the thousands who flock daily to Beaubourg, students seeking refuge in the Public Information Library (BPI), tourists marvelling at the view from the rooftop, artists absorbing inspiration—the absence will be profound. Yet, perhaps no group faces more immediate uncertainty than the small businesses that orbit the Centre Pompidou’s gravitational pull.
Alexandre Mazhouf, owner of the art boutique Image In Air and president of the Beaubourg-Les Halles traders’ collective, has spent years preparing for this moment. But that doesn’t make it any easier.
“Since the announcement, since even before the pandemic, we’ve been bracing for this,” he says. “Three million visitors pass through this area every year. The impact will be enormous.”
Cafés, bookstores, art shops, and souvenir stands that have long benefited from the steady stream of visitors are now facing an uncertain future. Many argue that the closure should have been staged, allowing sections of the building to remain open to soften the economic blow. But as it stands, an entire micro-economy is now at risk.
After numerous exchanges with the Ministry of Culture, the Beaubourg-Les Halles collective has decided to ask for guarantees that the surrounding area will remain lively and host certain cultural events.
Beyond the economic concerns, the Centre Pompidou’s closure also leaves a cultural void. The BPI, one of the few free libraries in Paris open to all, will shut its doors, disrupting the daily routines of students, jobseekers, and those learning French.
“People aren’t just coming here for books,” says Sylvie Collet, a librarian who has worked at the BPI for two decades. “It’s a space where they can study, use the internet, meet friends. For many, this closure is a serious issue.”
While alternative locations have been proposed, none quite replicate the unique accessibility and atmosphere of the BPI. The question remains: where will those who relied on it go?
In response to mounting concerns, local traders and cultural advocates have appealed to the Ministry of Culture, demanding that the square in front of the Pompidou remains a vibrant space during the renovation.
“We’ve met with officials, we’ve asked for cultural events to continue on the forecourt,” Mazhouf explains. “Something needs to keep this neighborhood alive.”
Over and above the impact on the daily lives of students and shopkeepers, this closure raises an essential question: how can the area’s cultural vitality be maintained during this long transition period? For now, the fate of these proposals remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: when the Pompidou reopens in 2030, its landscape may look very different. Whether the surrounding businesses and institutions survive the five-year pause depends on what happens next. Paris, ever in flux, will continue to evolve. But for those who have built their lives and livelihoods around the Centre Pompidou, the next few years will be a test of resilience.
Cet article a été écrit dans le cadre du course « Écriture de pressed » avec Jon Henley, pour less M2 Journalisme bilingue de la Sorbonne Nouvelle.
