La Piscine, Roubaix
A Glass Sunset
Art
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© 2022
A Sunset Made of Glass
In Roubaix, there is a swimming pool that isn't actually a pool anymore. La Piscine has transformed into a unique gallery in the Art Deco style. Those who enter these hallowed halls are greeted by a breathtaking selection of sculptures and paintings bathed in a very special light: a massive sunset painted on glass catches the rays and floods the former basin with an almost sacral atmosphere.
Prestige for the Working Class
Opened on October 21, 2001, the La Piscine - André Diligent Museum of Art and Industry breathes history. Built between 1927 and 1932 according to the plans of architect Albert Baert, it was originally a place of hygiene and sports for the working class. During a time of difficult living conditions, Roubaix showed courage: a prestigious project was created that gave dignity and modern services to urban society. Today, the building is rightly listed as a 20th-century heritage site.
The Cistercian Abbey of Water
Architect Albert Baert wove masterful symbolism into this place. He reinterpreted the floor plan of a Cistercian abbey in a Neo-Byzantine spirit. The basilical nave of the basin takes on the role of the abbey chapel, while the bath wings with their small cells rhythmize the garden like a cloister. Even a hair, manicure, and pedicure salon was once part of the "swimmers' dining room"—a functional luxury that today defines the museum's charm.
Fine Arts Without Hierarchy
What makes La Piscine so exciting in terms of content is the abolition of any hierarchy between applied and fine arts. Here, thousands of textile pattern books from Roubaix's proud industrial history find their place alongside world-renowned ceramics. In the former changing cubicles, one discovers works by Picasso, Chagall, and Dufy that enter into a direct dialogue with still lifes and design objects. The ensemble is crowned by the monumental gate by Sandier, a treasure from the National Manufactory of Sèvres.
