Jean Nouvel

Born at Fumel, France, in 1945, Jean Nouvel, architect and urban
planner, trained first in Bordeaux and then at the École Nationale
Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where in 1971 he graduated with the
Diplome par le Gouvernement. After early work experience with Claude
Parent’s practice, in 1970 he opened his first professional firm with
François Seigneu and, in 1988, founded Jean Nouvel, Emmanuel Cattani et
Associés (till 1994). He was a founder of the French Architects’
Movement (1976) and the Syndicat de l’Architecture (1979); he founded
and directed the Biennale d’Architecture as part of the Biennale of
Paris (1980); he was vice-president of the Institut Français
d’Architecture (1991). Since 1983 he has received numerous awards and
wide recognition in France and abroad, including the Leone d’Oro of the
International Biennale of Architecture in Venice (2000), the Gold Medal
of the Royal Institute of British Architects (2001) and the Praemium
Imperial (2001). His principal works include the Institut du Monde
Arabe in Paris (1981-87); the restoration of the Opera House in Lyon
(1986-93); the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain in Paris
(1991-94); the Galeries Lafayette in Berlin (1991-96); the Cultural
Centre Lucerne in (1993-2001).