Steven Holl Architects has won an international competition for the design of the Angers Collectors Museum and adjacent hotel in the historic city of Angers, France. Working in collaboration with developers Compagine de Phalsbourg, Holl’s scheme draws inspiration from the nearby 9th century Chateau d’Angers fortress, and seeks to form a new cultural gateway to the city.
Situated on the east bank of the Maine river, the Angers Collectors Museum will stand adjacent to the Chateau d’Angers and Le Quai theater, forming a new cultural triangle at the heart of Angers. History plays heavily on the museum’s design, with a series of reflecting pools referencing the river that once consumed the site.
The exposed titanium and concrete museum is connected to a linear hotel featuring a façade of weaving clear and translucent glass, inspired by the 14th century Apocalypse Tapestry on display in the Chateau d’Angers.
The museum will feature a central atrium event space, galleries for permanent and temporary exhibitions, and spaces for art education and storage. A sustainability agenda includes geothermal heating and cooling to eliminate fossil fuels, and the use of recycled water to fill the reflecting pools. At the center of the site, the hotel and museum come together to shape a public sculpture garden, forming a node to connect the site and city to the river.
New via: Steven Holl Architects
