In this section :
Centre d’Études Picasso
Research, architecture, archives
In the heart of the Marais district, a hidden location showcases the ways in which research, architecture and archives are extending Picasso’s legacy.
Hotel Normandy Le Chantier
The daring transformation of a parisian palace
Just metres from the Louvre and the Palais-Royal, a grand Parisian hotel has stood the test of time under the gaze of passers-by.
Reinvented buildings
When culture transforms the city
Abandoned factories and railway stations are being converted into cultural venues, blending industrial heritage with modern uses and transforming the urban landscape.
Creativity breathing new life into buildings destined for oblivion
Factories, stations, power plants and slaughterhouses were once powerful symbols of a city’s industrial might. When they ceased operations, these colossal structures entered a peculiar limbo—too substantial to demolish, too significant to simply abandon.
Over the past two decades, a remarkable transformation has taken place: creativity has reclaimed these spaces and given them fresh purpose. Contemporary art, grassroots cultural activities, innovation, gastronomy and sustainability are turning industrial heritage into vibrant, accessible and genuinely desirable destinations. These buildings are no longer mere relics. They’ve become living narratives, where memory sits in dialogue with present-day uses and tomorrow’s possibilities.
Memory that's productive, visible and cherished
Le CENTQUATRE-Paris ; Jean-Christophe Benoist – Wikimedia
In Paris, CENTQUATRE-Paris, Marseille’s Friche la Belle de Mai and Lisbon’s LX Factory share a common philosophy: preserving the traces of labour. Grand halls, exposed brickwork, glass canopies, machinery and industrial-scale proportions shape the visitor experience. The setting tells the story of collective endeavour, rhythm and craftsmanship. This memory provides the backdrop for contemporary creation—without descending into nostalgia or turning the space into a museum. Artists, entrepreneurs and local residents inhabit spaces that fully embrace their historical weight.
The power of these venues lies in the contrast between volumes designed for production and activities centred on culture, connection or experimentation. Architecture plays an active role, imposing a rhythm, a scale and a gravitas that give depth to current practices and strengthen the public’s emotional connection to these spaces.
Le CENTQUATRE-Paris ; Jean-Christophe Benoist – Wikimedia
La Friche de la Belle de Mai à Marseille ; Charlotte Noblet ; Wikimedia
Cultural venues woven into the urban fabric
La Friche de la Belle de Mai à Marseille ; Charlotte Noblet ; Wikimedia
These conversions resonate because of their openness. At La Friche la Belle de Mai, you can wander through a skatepark, a nursery, a rooftop terrace, a restaurant and several exhibitions—all in one visit. At CENTQUATRE, amateur dancers, families and established artists share the same halls. This porosity transforms culture into everyday life.
Matadero Madrid and Les Subsistances follow the same principle: cinema, theatre, design, literature and community activities coexist side by side. These sites function as self-contained neighbourhoods, as much places to pass through as destinations to explore. The programming draws visitors, whilst free access builds loyalty. People arrive without prescribed rituals, sometimes without any specific plan, but with the certainty of finding an activity, somewhere to eat, or simply a compelling viewpoint. Creation becomes part of the urban landscape, just like a market square or public park.
Culture as a catalyst for urban renewal
The High Line, New York, USA; Nikon Corporation; Unsplash
At scale, certain projects can fundamentally alter an area’s character and economy. In New York, the High Line and Chelsea Market have reshaped an entire neighbourhood, attracting new residents, tourists and businesses. In Paris, Station F has transformed a railway depot into an entrepreneurial campus, blending innovation, dining and public spaces. In Arles, LUMA Arles combines artistic creation, research and landscape design to reposition the city on the international cultural map.
These places draw visitors, generate employment and energise neighbouring businesses. Culture acts as an urban catalyst, capable of revitalising long-neglected areas whilst creating a positive, forward-looking narrative.
The High Line, New York, USA; Nikon Corporation; Unsplash
Base sous-marine de Bordeaux (intérieur) ; DJ Poldoc ; Wikimedia
A global phenomenon gaining momentum
Base sous-marine de Bordeaux (intérieur) ; DJ Poldoc ; Wikimedia
From London’s Tate Modern to Germany’s Zeche Zollverein, a global movement is redefining how we relate to industrial heritage. In Bordeaux, the Bassins des Lumières transforms a Second World War submarine base into a monumental digital art venue. In Valencia, the Bombas Gens Digital Arts Centre occupies an Art Deco hydraulic pump factory.
This international shift reflects a fundamental rethinking of heritage value. Rather than preserving buildings as static monuments, these projects embrace adaptive reuse, where history informs rather than constrains. The industrial past provides structure, character and narrative depth, whilst contemporary interventions bring relevance, accessibility and new meaning.
The future of industrial heritage
SONY, ILCE-7RM2 ; Unsplash
As cities worldwide confront the legacy of deindustrialisation, culture offers a proven model for regeneration. These conversions demonstrate that heritage needn’t be preserved in aspic—it can evolve, accommodate new uses, and remain economically and socially relevant.
The most successful projects share a common approach: they respect the past without being imprisoned by it. They preserve what gives these buildings character whilst adapting them for contemporary life. They create spaces that honour memory whilst embracing change.
This movement represents more than architectural conservation. It’s about reimagining urban space, democratising culture, and building communities around shared places. From Paris to New York, Lisbon to Valencia, these transformed industrial sites prove that our most valuable heritage is living, breathing and constantly evolving.
SONY, ILCE-7RM2 ; Unsplash
Large cultural centre in former funeral services converted into a place for creativity, dance, visual arts, shops and restaurants in Paris.
- 5 rue Curial / 104 rue d’Aubervilliers, 75019 Paris, France
A cultural district created from a former tobacco factory, combining a skatepark, music venues, exhibitions, gardens and public spaces.
- 41 rue Jobin, 13003 Marseille, France (entrée piétons)
Former textile industrial complex turned creative space with shops, restaurants, street art and Ler Devagar bookshop.
- Rua Rodrigues de Faria 103, 1300-501 Lisboa, Portugal.
Public walkway built on an old elevated railway line crossing Manhattan between Gansevoort Street and 34th Street along the Hudson River.
- Entre Gansevoort Street et W 34th Street, Manhattan, New York, NY, USA.
A gourmet food and shopping market located in the former Nabisco factory, combining a food hall and shops.
- 75 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY 10011, USA
National Museum of 19th-century art housed in the former Orsay railway station, famous for its Impressionist collection.
- 1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 Paris, France.
The world’s largest start-up campus, located in the former Halle Freyssinet, with workspaces and services.
- 5 parvis Alan Turing, 75013 Paris, France.
Contemporary art centre in an Art Deco hydraulic pump factory with a Mediterranean garden and immersive programmes.
- Avinguda de Burjassot, 54, 46009 Valence, Espagne.
Museum of modern and contemporary art in the former Bankside Power Station, known for its spectacular Turbine Hall.
- Bankside, Londres SE1 9TG, Royaume-Uni.
UNESCO-listed mining complex in Essen, converted into cultural spaces including the Red Dot Design Museum.
- Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex, Essen, Allemagne.
Former municipal slaughterhouse converted into a large cultural centre offering exhibitions, theatre, cinema and creative spaces.
- Plaza de Legazpi, 8, 28045 Madrid, Espagne.
Artistic creation laboratory in Lyon, hosting live performances, residencies and workshops in a former convent.
- 8 bis Quai Saint-Vincent, 69001 Lyon, France.
An 11-hectare cultural campus combining old railway workshops with contemporary architecture, exhibitions and gardens.
- 35 avenue Victor Hugo, 13200 Arles, France.
Monumental digital art centre inside the Bordeaux submarine base with immersive projections.
- Imp. Brown de Colstoun, 33300 Bordeaux, France.
