construction work has started on a new collections facility for the louvre, designed by rogers stirk harbour + partners (RSHP). located in liévin, a town in northern france, the new building will house conservation and storage facilities housing approximately 250,000 works and protecting them from the risk of flooding. 18,500 square meters of floor space will be provided, of which 9,600 sqm will be reserved for storing works, with 1,700 sqm for study and conservation treatment. the architects say that the research and study facility will be one of the most advanced in europe.

RSHP louvre collections facility
all images courtesy of rogers stirk harbour + partners

 

 

located near the institution’s lens outpost, the collections facility takes advantage of the naturally sloping terrain. defined by two pairs of concrete walls, RSHP’s design emerges from the landscape and is topped with a green roof that serves as an extension of the adjacent park. the entire facility will be contained on one level, with a broad corridor serving as the building’s ‘backbone’. art will pass from the 400 sqm delivery bay, along the corridor, to the areas dedicated to conservation and treatment.

RSHP louvre collections facility
a broad corridor serves as the building’s backbone

 

 

‘the louvre-lens building will blend almost completely into the landscape and marry the sloping form of the terrain,’ says graham stirk, senior partner at rogers stirk harbour + partners and lead designer on the project. ‘the single storey height of the building will also greatly facilitate the movement of the works.’

RSHP louvre collections facility
the entire facility will be contained on one level

 

 

the louvre collection facilities have been designed by rogers stirk harbour + partners with landscape architecture by mutabilis paysage & urbanisme. the building will be completed in summer 2019, and works will begin to be transferred to the facility throughout the second half of the year. see designboom’s previous coverage of the project here.

RSHP louvre collections facility
the building will be completed in summer 2019