It is hard today to imagine the controversy that the creation of the architects Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano aroused in 1970s Paris,when the parallelepiped of steel and glass in bold colours began to emerge from among the roofs of this old quarter of Paris! Beaubourg is today part of the Parisian landscape, thanks both to its piazza swarming with jugglers and caricaturists and to the Centre itself, whose success has been astounding. After being closed for two years for renovation work, the Centre again opened its doors in 2000, still faithful to its varied functions: the Public Information Library (BPI), with its direct access to documents, whether printed or electronic, which has revolutionised the notion of the library; the Institute of acoustic research and coordination and music (IRCAM) which, located beneath place Stravinski, explores the world of sound and is unveiled for concerts or rare open days; the temporary exhibition galleries, l'show space and finally the superb National Museum of Modern Art. As for the grand diagonal, the escalator which runs across the façade, it enables you to discover one of the most surprising panoramas of Paris and gives access to a restaurant space with a new look, the minimalist temple of «fooding» where lilis and bobos meet!