Louvre begins 'New Renaissance' renovation project amid security concerns

A major redevelopment of the Louvre Museum in Paris has started, led by a team of international architects. The project, announced earlier this week, will introduce a new entrance and a dedicated viewing area for Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.

The initiative, titled “Louvre – New Renaissance”, was first unveiled by French President Emmanuel Macron last year and has now officially begun its planning and design phase. The overall cost is estimated to be between €700 million and €800 million, although France’s Court of Auditors has projected a higher figure of around €1.15 billion.

A key feature of the redesign is a new entrance intended to reduce congestion at the museum’s iconic glass pyramid, which currently serves as the main access point. Designed in 1988 to accommodate around 4 million visitors annually, the Louvre now receives nearly 9 million visitors each year, placing significant strain on its infrastructure.

Under the new plan, the Mona Lisa, which draws an estimated 20,000 visitors per day, will be given a separate, dedicated viewing space and access route, along with a separate ticketing system.

The redevelopment will be carried out by an international consortium of architects, including Studios Architecture Paris and Selldorf Architects, the New York-based firm founded by German architect Annabelle Selldorf. The collaboration is part of a broader effort to modernise the museum while improving visitor flow, security, and preservation standards.

Officials say the redesign also responds to heightened security concerns following a jewellery heist incident in October 2025 that exposed vulnerabilities in the museum’s systems and resulted in significant repair and security reinforcement costs.

France’s Cultural Ministry praised the project, stating that it reflects “the quality of its architectural approach and its integration in terms of heritage, urban, and landscape considerations.”

The Louvre itself described the vision as one that “establishes an elegant link between the city, the palace, and the museum,” emphasising its aim to balance modernisation with respect for the historic site.