Minimal architecture, maximum artistic effect

The Louvre’s new affiliate in the Lens mining region

MúzeumCafé 38.

The Louvre’s first provincial affiliate opened in a brand-new building in December 2012 with an exhibition quite different in concept from the one in the capital. The ‘popularisation’ of culture, the concept of serving the public living in impoverished, disadvantaged regions, has been one of the most important goals of French cultural policy in recent times. One of the embodiments of this aim involves decentralising the art objects held in the Louvre, which was proposed in 2001 by Henri Loyrette, its then director, and which has been put into practice during the past ten years. As soon as Le Monde reported that the Louvre was intending to open a new museum in the provinces, the potential candidates started to appear. They included Valenciennes, Arras, Boulogne, Calais, Nantes, Lyon and Montpellier. However, in the following months through intense political lobbying Lens was able to maintain its previously established lead, having earlier convinced Loyrette, and stay ahead of its competitors. Thus in spring 2004 it was officially named as the Louvre’s future regional location. At the end of 2004 an architectural design competition was announced. This had been preceded by several years of basic planning from the museological perspective. By the time the ministry had approved the concept – involving museological, museum technical and exhibiting requirements, as well as consideration of the demands of the public – it still had to be realised in an architectural project. By March 2005, 120 anonymous plans had been submitted for the two-round competition. Of these, six were deemed worthy of further consideration by the 18-person jury, comprising mainly architects and politicians. The aluminium and glass building designed for the Louvre-Lens almost disappears before its content.