In Roubaix, northern France, when people mention “piscine,” they are not talking about freestyle or butterfly swimming. They are referring to the Museum of Art and Industry André Diligent – one of the most successful redevelopment projects of recent decades, where around 300,000 visitors each year take a plunge into culture.
Every corner of the Art Deco building hints at a bygone era, when Roubaix was a thriving textile capital. Nostalgia is everywhere, beginning with the vast nave flanked by dazzling sun-shaped stained glass windows and the central pool – where water still flows – now lined with sculptures by Bourdelle, Rodin and Carpeaux.
A soundtrack emanating from the rows of tiled shower cubicles gives the impression that children might burst in at any moment and dive into the water. “At first, we were afraid to keep water in the pool because of the humidity, but we solved it with a special air conditioning system,” explained Bruno Gaudichon, the brains behind this beloved museum who guided its growth before passing the torch to Hélène Duret in the summer of 2024.
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