16 Mar 2018
Medieval fortress and Apocalypse Tapestry inspire Steven Holl's museum and hotel design for Angers
BY Kim Megson
US architect Steven Holl has won an international design competition for the new Angers Collectors Museum and hotel, inspired by the medieval Apocalypse Tapestry displayed in the French city.
Collaborating with Parisian real estate firm Compagnie de Phalsbourg, Holl’s design for the museum is inspired by the historic Chateau d’Angers – built by King Louis IX in the 13th century – with the architect planning to create a new cultural gateway for Angers connecting with Le Quai, the city’s largest theatre, and a new sculpture garden.
Bridging medieval and contemporary architecture, the 4,742sq m (51,000sq ft) geothermically heated building will be formed of white concrete and exposed titanium. The interiors will include galleries for permanent and temporary exhibitions on the history of the city, an atrium event space and facilities for art education and storage. It will be surrounded by a series of reflecting pools – relating to the history of the site, once part of the River Maine – filled with recycled water.
Alongside the museum will be a linear hotel, with a rooftop restaurant connecting the two structures. The clear and translucent woven glass facade of the latter is inspired by the 14th-century tapestry, which depicts the story of the Apocalypse from the Book of Revelation over a number of sections and is housed in the Chateau.
“We want to create something transformative, taking inspiration from the beautiful castle and this ancient tapestry, that keep’s going on and on and on, Holl told CLAD. “It’s a project we’re really optimistic and excited about”.
A full interview with Steven Holl features in the latest issue of CLAD’s quarterly title CLADmag, which can be read online and on digital turning pages.
The magazine also includes interviews with architects Alison Brooks and Odile Decq, landscape specialist Adriaan Geuze and designers Ed Ng and Alice Lund.
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