IRCAM Rehabilitation of ESPRO

L’IRCAM, the Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics/Music, is a unique place where artists meet and collaborate with scientists. In France, there is only one such institution, established by musician Pierre Boulez in the early 1970s. The concept behind IRCAM is to function as both a workshop for scientists and a laboratory for artists. So, how can we encourage interactions and exchanges between these two professional domains within such an architectural structure? What hidden rooms exist underground that are at the forefront of sound and musical creation?

The story of a place at the forefront of sound creation

Originally, IRCAM was built underground by architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, who also designed the nearby Centre Pompidou-Beaubourg. In the shadow of its big brother, the Institute struggled to stand out. Over time, it expanded, including the addition of a small tower, to become more visible in the urban landscape. Importantly, it gained complete independence from the Centre Beaubourg, evolving into a global hub for research applied to sound and music. After seven years of asbestos removal and renovation work, IRCAM once again opens its spaces hidden underground to the public.

@radioFrance / @DanielRousselot