Institut du monde arabe - Jean Nouvel The IMA is considered as one of the new architectural landmarks of Paris with

the purpose of being a vehicle for the exchange of artistic, scientific and historic information between two civilizations: rance and the Arab world! The building is located in the oldest part of rance, among historic landmarks such as "otre#$ame which it faces and la %ite, the oldest settlement of &utece! Thus, the IMA is purposle' given exclusivit' and historic significance! The building is surrounded b' the (eine and (t!)er# nard *ua' on the north and the +ussieu ,niversit' building blocks on the south! -n the north and north west it neighbours .#/ store' 01th centur' buildings! The building site is flat, approximatel' five meters higher than the la (eine water level, as it is follows the riverside! The basic design of the Institut du monde arabe involves a nine store' building divided into two sections! The northern wing follows the curve of the street parallel to the (eine river while the southern wing runs parallel to the ,niversit' of +ussieu! These two sections are seperated b' a pathwa' starting from the street and ending at an internal court'ard on the fourth store' at the eastern end of the building, reminiscent of the sahn of mos*ues! The structural s'stem of the building involves steel columns, beams, trusses and supporting elements for the curtain#wall facades! )uilding materials consist of tempered glass, plastics, stainless steel, marble and aluminium2 all perfectl' gre' surfaces which contribute to the overall visual homogeint' and neutralit'! (pacial zones and volumes of the building are partitioned b' transparent glass and aluminium frames which give a sense of transparenc' with the abilit' to see through two or more floors at specific locations! The skin

of the building is a curtain wall s'stem with a northern and southern facade! The north facade facing the (eine is highl' reflective and appears polished due to the glazed glass and shinn' aluminium frames that run horizontall' accentuating the north wing and the (eine river3s curvature! The