Pop Open Space

Offering an eye-popping explosion of colors, patterns, and graphics, the headquarters of the Conseil Régional d'Île-de-France, the civil administration for Paris, is a visual tour de force. The seven-story building spans 40,000 square feet per floor, laid out in a rectangle around a central garden.

More than 50 original graphic works by Saguez cover the walls and glass partitions throughout the building, ranging from a Roy Lichtenstein-inspired pop-art style to snippets of lyrics from popular French songs and quotes from figures like Simone de Beauvoir, displayed in bold block lettering or elegant script.

Food is not overlooked, with four distinct dining options: Pop Café, featuring comic-style graphics and 1950s Formica furniture; Sous-Bois, a restaurant inspired by the region’s forests; Café Seine, an updated take on the classic Parisian bistro; and Ex-Libris, a library-coffee bar-lounge adorned with an eclectic mix of flea-market furnishings.

Architect: Jacques Ferrier. Building Developer: Tishman Speyer.

Photographers © Éric Laignel, © Florent Darthout