Designer building donated

When Zaha Hadid and Chanel join forces you know the outcome is going to be good. So good, in fact, that it deserves to be shared with some of the world’s edgiest cities.

Fashion powerhouse Chanel commissioned Iraqi-born English architect Zaha Hadid to create a mobile art pavilion, and the structure has now found a permanent home outside the Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA) in Paris. The pavilion toured to New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong, showcasing exhibitions of artworks inspired by Chanel bags, and the iconic brand has now donated the pavilion to the IMA institute.

The pavilion is a perfect marriage between the smooth flow of lines for which Hadid is renowned and Chanel’s typical elegance.

Using digital modelling tools, Hadid created a structure that always looks like it’s morphing into something else, a stark contrast to the rigid and orderly Jean Nouvel building nearby. In crisp white and featuring dark grey Artigo UNI flooring, the interior and architectural features create a striking space.

Because the building was designed to travel the world, the whole thing can be put together in less than a week. Paris though was the final set-up, and the pavilion will remain in its new home for Parisians and tourists to enjoy for years to come.

The IMA institute have said they will use the sculptural building to promote cultural programmes and host exhibitions that will showcase the work of talented individuals form Arab countries.

More information: www.chanel.com, www.zaha-hadid.com, www.imarabe.org