Now the city museum with a collection of approx. 50 thousand exhibits from the 15th to 21st centuries is located in the former abbey of Saint-Denis, where you can show only 7.5% of the collection. Therefore, the city authorities decided to build a new building, in the competition for the project of which, in addition to Chipperfield, Kengo Kuma and Dominique Perrault took part.
The site for the construction was the border of old Reims, passing along the line of the now demolished fortifications. Nearby are the ruins of the Roman Gate of Mars, on the other side there is a large city market: erected in the interwar period, now it has the status of a monument. This neighborhood became a source of inspiration for the architect.
The new museum is a "three-aisled" structure of 3 blocks with clearly defined ceilings. The lower part of the facades will be covered with translucent marble plates, and the main surface will be faced with recyclable materials: cast glass processed into ceramic panels.
The lobby, fenced off from the street only by an open "portico", will serve as an exhibition of archaeological finds at the construction site: the foundations of the structures that existed on the site of the museum. The reserve will be located on two underground tiers, and the main exposition - on the upper floors, in chronology: from bottom to top. Natural light will be available in almost all rooms.
The building with a budget of 55 million euros is due to open in 2018.
N. F.
