France's La Piscine Museum: A pool of art

From swimming pool to art museum

Initially, the museum was the city's old municipal swimming pool. Built in 1932, during the city's heyday as a textile manufacturing centre, it was originally commissioned in an attempt to encourage cleanliness and exercise among the mill workers.

For about 50 years since then, it was the only real place in Roubaix where social classes could mix. Here, all segments of the population mixed side by side, whether in the baths or in the large pool.

Abandoned in 1985, the museum, together with the old Hannart-Prouvost weaving plant, was renovated by architect Jean-Paul Philippon, who designed the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.

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