There was a time when the neoclassical style was the latest trend in architecture. But by the end of the last century, things had become a bit outdated. That’s what he thought. François Mitterand 30 years ago.

He hired Leoh Ming Pei to modernize the Louvre museum and the Chinese architect designed the famous pyramid by which we all identify the art gallery today.

In 1980 The project triggered a wave of criticism: A building so steeped in history was to be ravaged by the claws of modernity. However, once its construction was completed, Everyone ended up praising the remodeling.

So much so that Europe’s other great museum also wanted to jump on the avant-garde bandwagon. The British Museum It was built in 1852, and like the Louvre, it grew as its collection, fueled by colonialism, grew larger.

A year after Pei’s pyramid was unveiled, Norman Foster was asked to cover the great atrium. The architect met this demand with a glass and steel dome, which has now become the museum’s flagship.

Here in Spain we also decided to modify another neoclassical building.but in this case the architecture wanted to adapt to the content of its collection.

In 1990, it opens The Reina Sofía, the first contemporary art museum in our countryIn the 1980s the building was adapted to future museum needs, but it was in 2005 when the truly innovative project arrived.

Jean Nouvel expanded the museum by 60%with 92 million euros invested in its transformation. He also created a plaza, modifying not only the building, but also the public space around it.

But if we talk about extravagant mixes between the old and the new, the royal ontario museum takes the gold. A billionaire contributed 30 million euros for an extension. He didn’t ask for much in return, just that the wing should bear his name.

And as Darwin said, the maxim here is to adapt or die.