Designed by architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, the Pompidou Centre’s groundbreaking layout put the nuts-and-bolts inner workings of the museum on the outside, freeing up gallery space inside, but has shown signs of ageing since its 1977 opening.

The building’s radical design pushes almost all its structural and mechanical elements to the exterior. However, the maze of blue air-conditioning conduits, green water pipes, yellow electrical casings and red lifts on display outside suffer from continual exposure to the elements.

“There were two options,” the culture minister, Roselyne Bachelot, told Le Figaro newspaper. “One involved renovating the centre while keeping it open, the other was closing it completely. I chose the second because it should be shorter and a little bit less expensive.”

The building still divides opinion. Parisians who hate it tell visitors the best view of the city can be had from its rooftop terrace not because you can see the landmarks, but because you cannot see the Pompidou Centre.