• historic
• place making
• social fabric
• pedestrian
• public space
• cultural

The Carré d'Art project navigates the delicate balance between modern architecture and the historical significance of city centers. Tasked with integrating the new while respecting the past, the design draws inspiration from Nimes' urban structure, incorporating simple routes and formal spaces. The influence of the Roman Arena and Jardins de la Fontaine, as well as the iconic Maison Carrée, is evident throughout. In a bid to establish connections between these focal points, a diagonal route on the ground floor encourages public movement through the building. The Carré d'Art doesn't merely defer to the Maison Carree; instead, it engages in a dialogue with its historic neighbor, incorporating elements from the vernacular architecture of the region. The creation of an urban space, designed with a Roman grid, transforms the surrounding quarter of Nimes, breathing life into the area. Central to its design is a glass-roofed atrium featuring cascading staircases that pay homage to the regional courtyard architecture. This space leverages the transparency and weightlessness of contemporary materials, allowing natural daylight to infiltrate all levels. The project, thus, modernizes the fusion of themes, featuring a loggia in conversation with the Maison Carrée, a roofed courtyard with the staircases linking public levels, and a shaded roof-terrace cafe overlooking a new public square. Elevations of the Carré d'Art project showcase a calm, classical, and elegant building, with a structure expressed through transparent glass and metal grillages. The project's unique integration of a gallery for painting and sculpture with a mediatheque sets it apart, fostering a blend of visual arts and information technology within the same space. This shows the approach that the project takes, a balance between the old and the new. The placement of contemporary art galleries on upper levels maximizes natural light, while the mediatheque, housing a range of media, is conveniently located near the entrance. The lower floors serve practical functions, housing archive storage and a cinema. Above, two library levels seamlessly coexist with art galleries on the topmost floors. By digging half of the nine-story structure into the ground, the Carré d'Art maintains a low profile, respecting the domestic scale of its surroundings. Integral to the project was the establishment of an urban space, marked by the removal of railings, hoardings, and parked cars, allowing for the expansion of the area in front of the building. This transformation yielded a pedestrianized oasis, serving as a fresh social focal point that seamlessly complemented the Maison Carrée. The revitalized square, adorned with café tables and animated by the vibrant presence of people, has significantly revitalized the social and cultural heartbeat of Nîmes. In concert with these deliberate urban interventions, the Carré d'Art stands as a compelling testament to the transformative potential of a building project when paired with enlightened political initiatives, acting as a powerful catalyst for the rejuvenation of a city's social and physical fabric.