Luma Arles

Engage

Feb 19

Arles, France
Completed - 2016
115,000 gsf
Type: Cultural
Role: Sara Lopergolo (Design Partner, Selldorf Architects)

LUMA Arles is a new contemporary art center that brings together artists, researchers, and creators from every field to collaborate on multi-disciplinary works and exhibitions. Located south of Arles’ historic city center, the project repurposes the industrial ruins of a 16-acre rail depot and introduces a new public park.

The mandate was to design and repurpose the original 19th century industrial buildings. The premise of the renovations is to effectively fill in where nothing but perimeter masonry walls and cast-iron structure remain.

The expansive, former industrial spaces needed to allow flexibility for the presentation of all forms of art including painting, video, sculpture and photography as well as spaces for dance and film. Maintaining an authentic, existing vocabulary while bringing the buildings into the 21st century with a new purpose and technical requirements was the challenge of the project.