The dispute between Jean Nouvel and the Philharmonie de Paris in the hands of an examining magistrate

The architect had filed a complaint in October 2019 against the Philharmonie de Paris, which claims 170 million euros for the additional costs incurred during the construction.

A judicial investigation, resuming the offenses referred to in the complaint, was opened for "favoritism, illegal taking of interests, embezzlement of public funds, embezzlement, forgery and use of forgery" on February 12 and an examining magistrate was appointed to conduct the investigations, confirmed to AFP the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF).

Asked by AFP, the Philharmonie de Paris declined to comment.

"We have full confidence in the fact that the investigating magistrate will identify those responsible for the offenses committed at the Philharmonie to the prejudice of Jean Nouvel and the Ateliers Jean Nouvel" (AJN), reacted for their part William Bourdon and Vincent Brengarth, the lawyers by the architect known worldwide for his achievements, including the Quai Branly and the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

"These offenses are the direct consequence of a deliberate policy of demonizing the architect, favors granted to companies and a bewildering claim against the AJN for perfectly undue sums," they added.

Costed at 173 million euros at the start of the project in 2006, construction work reached 386 million euros.

For the Ateliers Jean Nouvel, this overrun can be explained by the poor management of the Philharmonie. For the latter, it is attributable to the architect, accused of having greatly underestimated the costs and of having carried out "permanent modifications".

In April 2017, the public institution responsible for managing the room sent an invoice for 170,6 million euros to the architect, including 110 million euros for late payment penalties.

During the filing of a complaint by the architect, the Philharmonie had denounced "unfounded accusations" and "the contrary claims of the Ateliers Jean Nouvel which demand more than 105 million euros in additional remuneration and allowances".

The multi-awarded architect had refused to participate in the inauguration of the concert hall, located in the north of the capital, on January 14, 2015.