France unveiled an international design team for the Louvre’s transformative Louvre-New Renaissance overhaul, which includes a dedicated Mona Lisa space and a new museum entrance.

The plan features a separate ticketing path for the Mona Lisa and adds an eastern entrance to ease congestion at the current pyramid entry, which now handles far more visitors than originally intended.

A dedicated museography space for the Mona Lisa and a new entry aim to improve accessibility and the overall visitor experience as part of the Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance.

The project follows heightened security and infrastructure concerns in the wake of the October jewel theft and ongoing scrutiny of the museum’s management.

Public consultation will occur in the coming months, with no construction start date set yet, as the plan addresses aging facilities while safeguarding heritage assets.

Selection emphasized the quality of the architectural proposal, its harmony with heritage and urban context, improved public access, clear circulation, sobriety, greenery, and safety.

Estimated costs range from €700–€800 million, with some official figures cited at €1.15 billion by the French Court of Auditors.

The project is expected to take about five years to complete, with Studios Architecture Paris leading as the French arm of the international firm.

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The Louvre, drawing roughly nine million visitors annually, has faced financial and operational challenges including a high-profile jewelry heist, strikes, a ticket fraud scheme, and maintenance and security issues.

Historical context recalls the Louvre’s origins dating to 1190 and its evolution into a royal and then public museum, with participating firms bringing experience from major projects like the Louis Vuitton Foundation, the Sainsbury Wing, and The Frick Collection renovations.

The design team comprises Studios Architecture Paris for museography, Selldorf Architects for general design, and BASE Landscape Architecture for landscape and urban planning.