ARCHITECT JEAN NOUVEL ATTACK

THE PHILHARMONY OF PARIS

To justify their referral to the national financial prosecutor, Ateliers Jean Nouvel have denounced an "exorbitant" and "unjustified" demand from the Philharmonie, which claims 170 million euros following the soaring costs of construction of the Paris hall.

The budget for the construction of the concert hall which had been evaluated in 2006 at 173 million euros, exploded to reach some 386 million euros on the evening of its inauguration on 14 January 2015. On this sum the cabinet of the famous architect had collected 12 million euros.

In its complaint filed on October 14 with the national financial prosecutor's office, the firm founded by the architect Jean Nouvel "vigorously" challenges the financial request sent by the public institution Philharmonie de Paris, deemed "exorbitant" and "unjustified". According to the Jean Nouvel Workshops, this overshoot is explained by the faulty management of the project by the Philharmonie itself.

"The facts are all the more unusual" as the Philharmonie "has chosen to pursue only the main contractor, excluding companies. This differentiated treatment finds no legitimate explanation, "write in a statement the lawyers of the architect, William Bourdon and Vincent Brengarth.

The lawyers also denounce facts of "favoritism" for service orders made with Bouygues, selected without the agreement of the architect. They finally accuse the Philharmonie of "false and use of forgery" for having signed construction documents with the header of the architectural firm after being sidelined.

Jean Nouvel and the Philharmonie have been involved in a judicial standoff since the inauguration of January 14, 2015, which the architect refused to participate.