French Ministry Selects Architecture Firms for Louvre Eastern Entrance Project

France's Ministry of Culture announced on Monday, May 18, that Studios Architecture Paris and Selldorf Architects won the competition to design a new entrance on the Louvre's eastern façade and a dedicated gallery for the Mona Lisa. The announcement came five days after the jury met. The project also includes collaboration with French landscape architects Base.

The competition had been delayed from its original February schedule. The museum had recently experienced a period of internal changes following the theft of the French crown jewels on October 19, 2025. The museum's leadership transition occurred after the resignation of its president and the appointment of a successor.

The ministry provided no further details about the winning design and declined to comment. The Louvre also remained silent on the selection. Earlier rumors that the project would be abandoned proved incorrect. Studios Architecture Paris serves as the French branch of a United States-based firm that has provided executive architectural services for projects including the Fondation Louis Vuitton and Fondation Luma.

Selldorf Architects is known for work on gallery spaces and art institutions in New York and London.