Galerie des Arts in the medieval centre of Hyères harks back to Victor Baltard’s ironwork structures and the old market hall that stood in the square until 1953. It is part of a vast urban regeneration project whose central idea is a waymarked urban heritage trail that takes you to some 30 art studios and craft workshops.
The starting point of the trail, and a welcoming showcase for it, is this eye-catching gallery. The space is split in two, the first area being an information centre and display space for works by local artists. In the second, a sculptress displays her work.
The steel frame supports a zinc roof. The works on show are visible to all through a glass front crisscrossed by steel struts that give the place a look of cool sobriety and show off the artworks to great effect.
The jury’s opinion
Galerie des Arts subtly combines history and modernity, letting the gaze stray between the interior and the outside surroundings. From the outside, the bare frame creates a very pleasing geometric pattern. This building, reception point for the heritage trail, is telling proof that a small-scale project can work effectively to create interconnection.
