Walid Layouni - A 3d artist that made Opera Garnier better than the original photo!

Walid Layouni is a CG Artist that made a unique 3d scene of the auditorium and stage of the Palais Garnier. 

In his Facebook page, shared the process of making the Opera Garnier of Paris.
We found his work exceptional and wanted to share it with you!

You can buy his Palais Center 3d model from here.

Opera Garnier Anniversary

Opera Garnier is celebrating a double anniversary in 2019: 350 years since the creation of the Royal Academy of Music by Louis XIV and 30 years since the inauguration of Opéra Bastille in 1989. To celebrate its anniversary season 2018-2019, the Opéra national de Paris will be presenting an array of exceptional opera productions.

The history behind Opera Garnier

The Opera Garnier, or Palais Garnier, is undoubtedly one of the most elaborate and imposing buildings in the city of Paris. Historically, it was officially the main lyric scene in Paris, but also the headquarters of the Paris Opera Ballet, until the Bastille Opera opened its gates in 1989.

This historic building has a total of 17 floors with the main hall occupying only 1/5 of its total area! Its oval amphitheater can accommodate up to 1,979 visitors at the same time, while the light source is a bronze and crystal chandelier with its own weight of up to 7 tons!

The ceiling area which surrounds the chandelier was originally painted by Jules Eugène Lenepveu. In 1964 a new ceiling painted by Marc Chagall was installed on a removable frame over the original. A source of inspiration for the work of Chagall was a series of classical works of ballet and opera by 14 composers (Mussorgsky, Mozart, Wagner, Berlioz, Rameau, Debussy, Ravel, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Adam, Bizet, Verdi, Beethoven, and Gluck).

Emperor Napoleon III was the one who decided to build a new Opera and the work was commissioned by architect Charles Garnier after a contest. Garnier had already spent five years in Rome, traveling throughout Greece and Turkey, and being inspired by Greek and Roman pageantry. He wanted to do something influenced by it, by introducing many architectural characters into a building.

The work was officially launched in 1861 but there was a constant interruption of work due to inadequate funding, but also due to the Gallo-German War of 1870 and the Labor Revolutionary Government, the Paris Commune of 1871. The Opera was eventually inaugurated and launched on January 5, 1875. With its magnificent hall and grand staircase, the design combines opulence for its patrons with remarkable acoustics for the performers.

Nowadays, Palais Garnier doesn't present opera any longer but is mostly used for ballet performances.

Did you know that…

The Opera Garnier is also the home of the famous Opera Ghost? It is said that the sound of the water that passes through the foundations of the building created the legend of the ghost, which later fueled the imagination of the writer Gaston Leroy who maintained throughout his life that the ghost is not a myth but a real one!

Additional:

Purchase the 3d model of Opera Garnier, made by CG Artist Walid Layouni.

Take the virtual tour of Opera Garnier using Street View technology

See an ultra-high definition photo of the ceiling painted by Marc Chagall

In the pictures below, you can see the Making Of Opera Garnier by Walid Layouni.