Palais d’Iéna

The Palais d'Iéna stands as a rare monument to the architectural ambition of the twentieth century, built entirely from exposed reinforced concrete. Architect Auguste Perret designed the structure for the nineteen thirty-seven Universal Exhibition, intending for it to serve as a national museum dedicated to the technical marvels of public works, such as bridges and dams. Perret viewed the material as a medium for aesthetic perfection and sought to prove that concrete could rival the classical elegance of ancient Greek architecture. You can see this intent in the building's colonnades, which feature fluted columns that flare at the top like palm trees.