JEAN COCTEAU MUSEUM
DESIGN BY RUDY RICCIOTTI
Selected in 2008 as the
winning design from an international field of entries in a competition launched
by the town Menton in 2007, the architectural project of Rudy Ricciotti, the
2006 winner of France’s Gran Prix National d’Architecture, covers a total area
of 2,700 sqm able to house all of the works donated by Severin Wunderman.
Although limited in some
aspects, the site has great potential. Its features include a pre-existing
parking garage on the first subterranean level and a purification plant on the
second subterranean level with their access ramps bisecting the site, a
sea-level aquifer, backfill soil, sea spray exposure, etc. Stresses in the
immediate vicinity include a noisy coastal urban thorough fare.
The site is also not
neutral in its impact. It will strengthen the relationship between the town’s
centre and its seafront, as substructure ensuring the resilience of the
existing urban landscape. The building must be in keeping with Menton’s urban
fabric and character, helping to return the Quai Monléon to pedestrian use.
Setting aside the disquieting vision of the archways, depicted in old picture
postcards, the virtues of Menton as a seaside resort must be retained.
Photographs: Agence Rudy Ricciotti, Lisa Ricciotti, Olivier Amsellem
http://www.archdaily.com/225487/jean-cocteau-museum-rudy-ricciotti/
http://www.rudyricciotti.com/musees/musee-jean-cocteau--collection-severin-wunderman#!2
‘’ The choice of
architectural materials for this project, and especially its black-and‐white
aesthetic, was unavoidable. The realm of dreams and mystery, the starkness of
contrasts and the interweaving of shadows ultimately reflect the contradictions
in Cocteau's life and work.
Black and white no longer
serve as colors here. Rather, they create an interplay of structural forces
calling to mind both the artist's works on paper and the poet's personality,
his zones of light and darkness, his enigmatic self-mythology fueled by
contrasts. ‘’
Rudy
Riccotti
RUDY RICCIOTTI
Born August 22, 1952 in
Algiers, Algeria.
Diplomas
1980 – School of Architecture
Marseille, France
1975 – Higher Technical School of Geneva, Switzerland
Architect and engineer, awarded
the Grand prix National d’Architecture in 2006 and the Médaille d’or de
l’Académie d’architecture, Rudy Ricciotti is representative of this generation
of architects who combine the power of creation with a genuine culture of
construction.
Pioneer and ambassador of concrete, he sublimates innovative uses
of concrete in landmark projects such as the Vitrolles Stadium – 1994, the
National Choreographic Center – the Black Pavilion in Aix-en-Provence – 2006,
the Jean Cocteau Museum in Menton – 2011, the Department of Islamic Arts at the
Louvre Museum – 2012, the MuCEM (Museum of European and Mediterranean
Civilizations) in Marseille – 2013, the Jean Bouin Stadium in Paris – 2013, the
Bridge of the Republic in Montpellier – 2014, the Camp de Rivesaltes Memorial –
2015, or the Bordeaux Métropole Arena and parking in Floirac – 2017, the
Humanist Library at Sélestat – 2018, the Regional Found of Contemporary Art
Normandie-Caen – 2019, the Contemporary and Contemporary Music-Hall in
Aix-en-Provence – 2019, the Nantes Train station – 2020.
He has
also constructed abroad, the Philharmonie Nikolaisaal in Potsdam, Germany –
2000, the Peace Bridge in Seoul, South Korea – 2002, and the CIAC “La Boverie”
(International Center of Art and Culture) in Liège, Belgium – 2016.
Rudy
Ricciotti is also the author of numerous books and pamphlets, including Le Beau, le
brut et les truands (conversation
with Paul Chemetov) published by Textuel – 2021, Premières
lignes published by Cassis Belli – 2019, L’exil de la
beauté published by Textuel – 2019, Je te ressers
un pastis ? published by l’Aube – 2019, Mémorial du
Camp de Rivesaltes published by Archibooks – 2016, Le béton en
garde à vue published by Lemieux Éditeur – 2015, En vain published
by Jannink – 2014, Conversations imaginaires “ou pas” published
by un autre Reg’Art – 2014, L’architecture est un sport de combat published
by Textuel – 2013, HQE published by Le Gac Press –
2013.
https://rudyricciotti.com/en/biography/
