1710_CITROEN
refurbishment of the Citroën centre in a modern and contemporary arts museum and architecture centre
- Location :
- Brussels
- Cost :
- 125.000.000 EUR excl VAT
- Team :
- Advvt6agwA (architecten devylder vinck taillieu - 6a - AgwA) + Muck Petzet + Mathieu Wellner
- Planning :
- 2018
- Category :
- Competition
Citroën, a model
Citroën is not just another museum. First of all, Citroën hosts several institutions around communal spaces. Not only Civa and the Museum, but also the Kaai and why not the City. The Civa itself is multiple: archives, exhibitions, debates, etc. The museum is also multiple: several museums side by side, very different, but all under the same roof.
Found, descovered, revealed
In André Citroën's time, the future turned its back on history. Today, the future cannot be thought of without history. So yes, the museum will be in the Garage, not in an ivory tower. The spaces of everyday life too. The Garage will be the centre, to the fullest extent of its nature and possibilities.
The Museums
The potential of the existing, infinite spaces under their roofs multiplies the museums in Citroën. The Museum itself, perfectly conditioned, delimited by an enclosing wall that the triangular openings link to its context; a peripheral gallery, open to the city, on the edge of the museum; the Garage, a large central unitary space, open to experimentation, temporary exhibitions, and large-scale events, in direct contact with the pier and the canal; the Showroom, a large facade in direct contact with the city centre; the Avenue, the central axis that crosses the entire centre; and finally, the Interstitial Museum, which can be found in the car parks, in the offices or in the foyers of the auditoria.
the Chevron, the gear that revolutionises
To function at its best, just as Citroën developed the chevron (a V-shaped gear, a formal invention that revolutionised the mechanics of the automobile engine) the old "Importer" is demolished and replaced by a "Chevron". This new building is a gear, which drives all the mechanics of the Centre. Auditorium, archives, library, offices, restaurant, ticket office, deliveries. The Chevron is marked by four spiral staircases, wrapped around a Silo which contains large double-height rooms.
the Garage, the public and the central action
Social life, shops, cafés, and restaurants find their place in the multiple spaces of Citroën, feeding and being fed by their unique positions. But above all, in the centre of it all lies a new proposal: adjacent to the pier, a large unitary space, the Garage, is a potential exhibition space. But why not share its use with the city? Why not hold a market there, open it up to a beach volleyball tournament, build pavilions with the architecture schools, or a dance festival?
Inviting the Kaai
Let's be clear, it's not just a matter of offering the Kaai the opportunity to develop alongside Citroën. It's about putting in place the conditions to invite the Kaai to become a full-fledged player in Citroën. It brings its own specificities, its incomparable quality, its culture. It has a large area of contact with Citroën, which is left as is. It is the place of exchange between the two. Rather, it is the large Garage that will form the common identity of all the actors of the place.
Faces
Citroën has changed but remains Citroën. In fact, it has reconnected with its identity. The large showroom window has become its new face on the urban space, on the boulevard and on the future square. Citroën is also opened to the city. The large doors of the Garage open the space to the pier, the canal and the city entrance. Finally, the Chevron, slightly set back, fits into the neighbouring volumes. The triangulated Silo brings a particular character, and the technical core, turning towards Brussels, offers a display space on scale to the city centre and the canal.
(Extract from the Competition Proposal)
Citroën is not just another museum. First of all, Citroën hosts several institutions around communal spaces. Not only Civa and the Museum, but also the Kaai and why not the City. The Civa itself is multiple: archives, exhibitions, debates, etc. The museum is also multiple: several museums side by side, very different, but all under the same roof.
Found, descovered, revealed
In André Citroën's time, the future turned its back on history. Today, the future cannot be thought of without history. So yes, the museum will be in the Garage, not in an ivory tower. The spaces of everyday life too. The Garage will be the centre, to the fullest extent of its nature and possibilities.
The Museums
The potential of the existing, infinite spaces under their roofs multiplies the museums in Citroën. The Museum itself, perfectly conditioned, delimited by an enclosing wall that the triangular openings link to its context; a peripheral gallery, open to the city, on the edge of the museum; the Garage, a large central unitary space, open to experimentation, temporary exhibitions, and large-scale events, in direct contact with the pier and the canal; the Showroom, a large facade in direct contact with the city centre; the Avenue, the central axis that crosses the entire centre; and finally, the Interstitial Museum, which can be found in the car parks, in the offices or in the foyers of the auditoria.
the Chevron, the gear that revolutionises
To function at its best, just as Citroën developed the chevron (a V-shaped gear, a formal invention that revolutionised the mechanics of the automobile engine) the old "Importer" is demolished and replaced by a "Chevron". This new building is a gear, which drives all the mechanics of the Centre. Auditorium, archives, library, offices, restaurant, ticket office, deliveries. The Chevron is marked by four spiral staircases, wrapped around a Silo which contains large double-height rooms.
the Garage, the public and the central action
Social life, shops, cafés, and restaurants find their place in the multiple spaces of Citroën, feeding and being fed by their unique positions. But above all, in the centre of it all lies a new proposal: adjacent to the pier, a large unitary space, the Garage, is a potential exhibition space. But why not share its use with the city? Why not hold a market there, open it up to a beach volleyball tournament, build pavilions with the architecture schools, or a dance festival?
Inviting the Kaai
Let's be clear, it's not just a matter of offering the Kaai the opportunity to develop alongside Citroën. It's about putting in place the conditions to invite the Kaai to become a full-fledged player in Citroën. It brings its own specificities, its incomparable quality, its culture. It has a large area of contact with Citroën, which is left as is. It is the place of exchange between the two. Rather, it is the large Garage that will form the common identity of all the actors of the place.
Faces
Citroën has changed but remains Citroën. In fact, it has reconnected with its identity. The large showroom window has become its new face on the urban space, on the boulevard and on the future square. Citroën is also opened to the city. The large doors of the Garage open the space to the pier, the canal and the city entrance. Finally, the Chevron, slightly set back, fits into the neighbouring volumes. The triangulated Silo brings a particular character, and the technical core, turning towards Brussels, offers a display space on scale to the city centre and the canal.
(Extract from the Competition Proposal)
