transformation of andré malraux’s first “maison de la culture” into an art museum
location: le havre, france
client: city of le havre
design team: l. beaudouin - e. beaudouin - s. barclay - j.p. crousse
project team: a. purpuri, l. carrara
built surface: 5720 m2
competition: 1994 – first prize
completion: 1999
photographer: j.m. monthiers
award: équerre d’argent – nominated project - le moniteur, paris 1999
The refurbishing of Malraux’s first Maison de la Culture into a museum is taken as an opportunity to push forward the original ideas of the building, designed by a team led by Guy Lagneau and Jean Prouvé. A system of light filters over the façade, the creation of a real natural-lighted interior volume, the work over space fluidity, and the evolution of the museum its art collection.
All the public services of the museum are grouped to reinforce the connection between the exhibition, the city, and the ocean, as well as all the public spaces, have a view towards the permanent collection.
