Musée de l’Homme

Permasteelisa Group worked with Zen+dCo to complete the new outfitting of the National Natural History Museum in Paris, reopened after six years of restoration.

Located in the Passy wing of the historic and prestigious Palais du Chaillot in the Place du Trocadero, the Musée de l’Homme has undergone a comprehensive architectural renovation under the direction of architects Brochet-Lajus-Pueyo, winners of a contest launched in 2006 for the redesign of the interior spaces. The museum outfitting was designed by Zette Cazalas’ Zen+dCo.

Permasteelisa Group worked with Zen+dCo to design all the structures needed to display the important exhibits the museum owns, including the only intact Cro-Magnon man skull.

Zen + DCO, exhibition design project for Musée de l’Homme, Paris

The new architectural design was inspired by concepts like transparency, integration and harmony with the environment. This was achieved through the extensive use of natural light, enhanced by enlarging the existing windows and removing part of the ceiling in the main pavilion to create a light well. This allows light to flood into the central areas of the museum.  

Zen + DCO, exhibition design project for Musée de l’Homme, Paris

Permasteelisa’s role in fitting out the Musée de l’Homme’s new layout involved supervising project management and coordination between the participating companies. The Group also managed the construction and installation of more custom-made supports, located inside air-conditioned showcases fitted out with display compositions screen-printed with graphics designed by the project’s architects.  

Permasteelisa oversaw the construction of interactive booths and custom-made tables, fibreglass architectural sculptures and several other exhibition tables and installations, from fibreglass tables to bronze sculptures. 

Zen + DCO, exhibition design project for Musée de l’Homme, Paris
Zen + DCO, exhibition design project for Musée de l’Homme, Paris
Zen + DCO, exhibition design project for Musée de l’Homme, Paris
Zen + DCO, exhibition design project for Musée de l’Homme, Paris
Zen + DCO, exhibition design project for Musée de l’Homme, Paris
Zen + DCO, exhibition design project for Musée de l’Homme, Paris
Zen + DCO, exhibition design project for Musée de l’Homme, Paris
Zen + DCO, exhibition design project for Musée de l’Homme, Paris
Zen + DCO, exhibition design project for Musée de l’Homme, Paris
Zen + DCO, exhibition design project for Musée de l’Homme, Paris
Zen + DCO, exhibition design project for Musée de l’Homme, Paris
Zen + DCO, exhibition design project for Musée de l’Homme, Paris
Zen + DCO, exhibition design project for Musée de l’Homme, Paris


Musée de l’Homme, Paris
Program: museum
Architects: Brochet-Lajus-Pueyo
Exhibition desihn: Zen + DCO
Project management, coordination and exhibition systems: Permasteelisa
Area: 16,000 sqm
Completion: October 2015