A building perfectly adapted to its surroundings

The site chosen for the future Louvre-Lens museum is in the heart of the city, on land that is slightly higher than the surroundings. This presents a challenge to the architects, because an overly tall, dominating building would create the impression of a cultural fortress overshadowing the city.

The Sanaa agency thus designed a low structure that is perfectly adapted to the site without being overbearing. It consists of five buildings - four rectangles and a large square with slightly wavy walls which touch in the corners. The design is reminiscent of the Louvre in Paris with its two wings stretched out. Sanaa also describes the design in terms of boats on a river that have delicately floated into a huddle.

Layout of the buildings

The building on the far left (see photo above) houses a large auditorium seating over 300. It leads directly to the building housing temporary exhibitions, which in turn leads to the entrance foyer - a vast space measuring 68 m by 55 m or nearly 3,800 m². This is where visitors will find the main reception, multimedia library, bookstore and gift store, cafeteria, picnic area, and area where sponsors are welcomed.

To the right of the entrance foyer are the two principal exhibition halls, where regularly updated exhibits will be displayed around the Galerie du Temps. The principal gallery, lit from overhead and measuring over 130 meters in length, is echoed by a less imposing building whose façades, entirely made of glass, open onto the grounds. Educational workshops take place both in this building and in a hall to the south-west of the main gallery.

A large staircase leads down from the entrance foyer to the first basement level, where visitors can look down onto the museum's reserves and the studios where artworks are prepared for display. Parts of the museum that are usually hidden from the public will be on show. The first basement level also houses a small auditorium and activity and training facilities.

Two buildings on either side of the entrance foyer house the administrative services and the restaurant, creating a link between the museum and the city.

The entrance foyer: a delicate glass pavilion

The central entrance foyer, opening onto the grounds, is a large, completely transparent glass square, lit by skylights overhead. The light structure rests on delicate pillars.

It is both the entrance to the museum and a huge public space for the local population. As it is transparent and opens onto the grounds from many directions, it invites visitors to enter and leave at their will.

The two main exhibition galleries have opaque façades but are lit from overhead with partially glass roofs. On very sunny days, the light will be dimmed by a set of shades built into the roof and an inner membrane forming the gallery ceilings.

The grounds

The transparent and reflective façades of the museum buildings will blend perfectly into the carefully landscaped grounds of this former mine yard, abandoned to nature.

The transparent façades of the entrance foyer and the building furthest to the east are echoed by the anodized aluminum façades of the other buildings, which reflect their natural surroundings. The aluminum façades play with changes in light and the weather so that the museum presents a constantly changing face to visitors.

The landscaped grounds combine several types of garden: a formal garden in front of the museum, a formal garden in front of the museum, clearings and walks through and round the edge of the grounds, natural forest groves in the western part and gardens forming a counterpoint to the woodlands. The intention is to create a park for the people of Lens to enjoy. It will also showcase the former mine shaft, recalling the site's industrial heritage.