Arab World Institute

The Arab World Institute stands out for its south facade, covered in two hundred forty mechanical apertures that resemble ornate metallic camera shutters. These bronze lenses automatically contract or expand in response to sunlight, controlling the heat and light entering the building. Architect Jean Nouvel designed this glass and steel structure in the nineteen eighties to foster cultural exchange between France and the Arab world. Inside the lobby, you can hear the faint mechanical hum of those shutters adjusting to the passing clouds.