Launch of the Le Monde HQ Sketchbooks in France

The meeting event be attended by Frédéric Chaume, Lamiya Shirvanzada, Oliver Page, director of Snøhetta Studio Paris, and Gilles Van Kote, deputy director of Le Monde Group.

To celebrate the fifth anniversary of Le Monde's headquarters in Paris, Snøhetta has released the Le Monde HQ Sketchbooks, an artistic documentation of the building's construction by French artist Frédéric Chaume.

This publication brings together 230 drawings by artist Frédéric Chaume, accompanied by poems by Lamiya Shirvanzada, an introduction by Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, co-founder of Snøhetta, as well as essays by Jean-Louis Cohen, architect and historian, and Kristin Feireiss, director of the Aedes Architecture Forum.

Between 2017 and 2020, Chaume visited the site over 250 times, capturing the building's evolution through a series of hand-drawn sketches and engravings. His work offers a unique, artistic perspective on the construction process, highlighting moments rich in human activity and urban transformation.

The book features a curated selection of 232 artworks and was designed and published by Snøhetta Books to commemorate the building's milestone. It reflects the vision of Le Monde's chairman of the board, Pierre Bergé, who emphasized the importance of preserving the project's cultural legacy beyond mere technical documentation.

Designed by Snøhetta in collaboration with SRA Architectes, the headquarters was completed in 2020 and united 1,600 employees of the Le Monde Group. The building's arch-shaped structure, open public plaza, and semi-transparent façade embody a commitment to openness and civic engagement.
Chaume's artistic process unfolded in two phases: on-site sketching using black chalk, charcoal, and watercolor, followed by studio work involving copper engravings and detailed drawings. Final prints were produced in collaboration with Les Ateliers Moret, a renowned Parisian intaglio workshop.

The book is enriched by poems from Lamiya Shirvanzada, an introduction by Snøhetta co-founder Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, and essays by architect and historian Jean-Louis Cohen and Aedes Architecture Forum director Kristin Feireiss, offering deeper insight into the project's artistic and architectural significance.

Le Monde HQ Sketchbooks stands as a testament to the power of art in preserving architectural heritage and invites readers to experience the poetic dialogue between space, time, and human endeavor.