The origins of the I.R.C.A.M. (Institut de Recherche Musicale et Coordination Acoustique et Musique) go back to the competition for the Centre Pompidou in 1971. At that time, Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers designed an innovative subterranean network of acoustically sophisticated sound studios. Busy Igor Strawinsky Square formed its roof, without the pedestrians being aware of it who crowd there to gaze at Jean Tinguely's mobile sculptures in the pool.