The Institut océanographique de Paris (, ), is an

oceanographic Oceanography (), also known as oceanology, sea science, ocean science, and marine science, is the scientific study of the ocean, including its physics, chemistry, biology, and geology. It is an Earth science, which covers a wide range of top ...

institution founded in 1906 by

Albert I, Prince of Monaco Albert I (Albert Honoré Charles Grimaldi; 13 November 1848 – 26 June 1922) was Prince of Monaco from 10 September 1889 until his death in 1922. He devoted much of his life to oceanography, exploration and science. Alongside his expeditions, ...

, which also includes the

Oceanographic Museum of Monaco The Oceanographic Museum (), is a museum of marine sciences in Monaco City, Monaco. This building is part of the Institut océanographique, which is committed to sharing its knowledge of the oceans. History The Oceanographic Museum was i ...

. The building was designated as a

Monument historique () is a designation given to some national heritage sites in France. It may also refer to the state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building, a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, ...

in 2004. In 2011, for the 100 year anniversary, it was renamed the Maison de l'Océan.

History

Origin

The organization's founder,

, wanted to spread his knowledge and interest in

oceanography Oceanography (), also known as oceanology, sea science, ocean science, and marine science, is the scientific study of the ocean, including its physics, chemistry, biology, and geology. It is an Earth science, which covers a wide range of to ...

, and as early as 1903 began teaching classes of the subject at the

Conservatoire national des arts et métiers The (; ; abbr. CNAM) is an AMBA-accredited French ''grande école'' and '' grand établissement''. It is a member of the '' Conférence des Grandes écoles'', which is an equivalent to the Ivy League schools in the United States, Oxbridge in th ...

. The classes were successful, and led to the creation of the Oceanographic Institute in Paris, as well as the formation of the

Institut océanographique The () is an ocean education organization based in Monaco. The institute manages two ocean museums (in Monaco and Paris) and lobbies globally for the preservation of the oceans' ecology. History The Institut océanographique was founded in 1906 ...

organization in 1906.

Construction

The oceanographic institute was built in 1908 and completed in 1911. It is located in the

5th arrondissement of Paris The 5th arrondissement of Paris (''Ve arrondissement'') is one of the 20 Arrondissements of Paris, arrondissements of Paris, the capital city of France. In spoken French, this arrondissement is referred to as ''le cinquième''. The arrondisseme ...

near the

Latin Quarter The Latin Quarter of Paris (, ) is an urban university campus in the 5th and the 6th arrondissements of Paris. It is situated on the left bank of the Seine, around the Sorbonne. Known for its student life, lively atmosphere, and bistros, t ...

, on the corner of Rue Saint-Jacques and Rue Gay-Lussac, in the "Campus Curie", which includes other scientific institutions. The building was designed by architect Henri-Paul Nénot, who also designed the nearby Sorbonne and the neighboring . The latter is linked by a symbolic double arch (the Earth and the Ocean) to the Oceanographic Institute. The building's style is an Italian Renaissance palace in brick and stone, flanked by a tall square tower, which is similar to many others in the area. This building includes two amphitheatres, three laboratories corresponding to three courses (

physical oceanography Physical oceanography is the study of physical conditions and physical processes within the ocean, especially the motions and physical properties of ocean waters. Physical oceanography is one of several sub-domains into which oceanography is div ...

marine biology Marine biology is the scientific study of the biology of marine life, organisms that inhabit the sea. Given that in biology many scientific classification, phyla, family (biology), families and genera have some species that live in the sea and ...

and

physiology Physiology (; ) is the science, scientific study of function (biology), functions and mechanism (biology), mechanisms in a life, living system. As a branches of science, subdiscipline of biology, physiology focuses on how organisms, organ syst ...

marine biodiversity Marine life, sea life or ocean life is the collective ecological communities that encompass all aquatic animals, plants, algae, fungi, protists, single-celled microorganisms and associated viruses living in the saline water of marine habitat ...

), a specialized library-media library, breeding grounds in the basement and official accommodation (managerial apartment and caretaker's studio).

Gallery

File:Inst oceano 1911.jpg, Inauguration of the Institute in 1911 File:Plan coupe IOP.jpg, Sectional plan of the Oceanographic Institute File:Institut OcéanoŠCPA LM 1912.jpg, The Institute in 1912 File:Institut_océanographique_de_Paris-Architecture_au_XXème_siècle.jpg, Architectural diagram from the early 20th century File:Inst oceano Main entrance.JPG, Main entrance door of the Institute File:P1010481 Paris V rue Saint-Jacques Institut océanographique n.195 reductwk.JPG, Commemorative text of the construction of the building File:Inst oceano commemorative plate.JPG, Prince Albert Medallion File:Centre de la Mer.jpg, The Center of the Sea and Waters (1977-2010) File:Inst oceano- main lecture theater 2.JPG, Detail of the golds of the large amphitheater File:Institut océanographique de Paris 7.jpg, Détail de la fresque du grand amphithéâtre : « sur le Pont de la ''Princesse Alice'' » File:Prince Albert I of Monaco and a pilot whale.jpg, Prince Albert I of Monaco aboard Princess Alice with a butchered whale. File:Inst oceano- Painting2.JPG, Large mural (detail)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Institut oceanographique de Paris Oceanographic organizations Monuments historiques of Paris Research institutes established in 1906 Buildings and structures in the 5th arrondissement of Paris 1906 establishments in France