The Art Pipe

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The Art Pipe is a cultural competition proposal for Le Havre. It takes the city’s industrial structures and cylindrical forms as references for a tubular museum element associated with the existing concrete arch.

The proposal considers how an industrial landmark can accommodate a cultural programme while retaining its visible identity. The new element, called the Nautilus Pipe, is studied in relation to the arch and the waterfront rather than as an isolated object.

Location
Le Havre, France
Type
Cultural Museum, Competition Entry
Status
Competition Winner
Year
2024
Arch Span
270 m length / 21.5 m height
Scope
Architecture, Cultural Program, Adaptive Reuse
The Art Pipe: Interior visualization of exhibition volumes within the cylindrical museum envelope.
Interior visualization of exhibition volumes within the cylindrical museum envelope.
The Art Pipe: Competition announcement reproduced as a reference within the project record.
Competition announcement reproduced as a reference within the project record.
The Art Pipe: Context analysis maps cylindrical forms across Le Havre’s waterfront.
Context analysis maps cylindrical forms across Le Havre’s waterfront.
The Art Pipe: Four-stage diagram develops the museum volume within the existing structure.
Four-stage diagram develops the museum volume within the existing structure.

The urban analysis records towers, stacks and port infrastructure as part of the city’s formal vocabulary. Their cylindrical geometry is a design reference, not proof that one shape is universally more efficient or durable in a coastal environment.

The Art Pipe: Interior view shows suspended exhibition elements and circulation.
Interior view shows suspended exhibition elements and circulation.
The Art Pipe: View along the cylindrical hall toward the museum’s layered programme.
View along the cylindrical hall toward the museum’s layered programme.

The design intention is to keep the existing arch legible beside the addition. Steel and glazed elements are proposed to establish that relationship; structural independence, connections and reversibility would require detailed engineering and conservation assessment.

The Art Pipe: Exploded programme diagram separates the museum’s levels.
Exploded programme diagram separates the museum’s levels.
The Art Pipe: Night aerial visualization of the museum on the waterfront.
Night aerial visualization of the museum on the waterfront.

The published programme develops three levels connected by a spiral route. Exhibition and gathering areas occupy the lower level, while the higher spaces combine views, events and workshops. The circulation is conceived as a continuous sequence through the tubular form.

The Art Pipe: Monochrome axonometric model of the long cylindrical intervention.
Monochrome axonometric model of the long cylindrical intervention.
The Art Pipe: Cutaway model reveals the relationship between the museum and the existing structure.
Cutaway model reveals the relationship between the museum and the existing structure.

The roof and glazed envelope are studied in relation to daylight and views. These drawings describe the spatial intention, without presenting measured daylight, energy or structural results for a completed building.

The Art Pipe: Colour-coded floor plans identify exhibition and support spaces.
Colour-coded floor plans identify exhibition and support spaces.
The Art Pipe: Model view studies the spiral circulation within the cylindrical frame.
Model view studies the spiral circulation within the cylindrical frame.
The Art Pipe: Reference collage compares cylindrical motifs in Le Havre’s architecture.
Reference collage compares cylindrical motifs in Le Havre’s architecture.
The Art Pipe: Site model shows the museum envelope and adjoining concrete structure.
Site model shows the museum envelope and adjoining concrete structure.
The Art Pipe: Interior visualization of the structural frame and circulation opening.
Interior visualization of the structural frame and circulation opening.
The Art Pipe: Waterfront visualization shows the museum’s illuminated profile across the water.
Waterfront visualization shows the museum’s illuminated profile across the water.

The landscape proposal uses planted areas and pedestrian routes to connect the cultural spaces with the waterfront. Its limited palette is intended to preserve the relationship between the arch and the coastal horizon.

The Art Pipe explores the reuse of an industrial setting through a new cultural programme. The related pages set out the office’s approach to developing such a proposal from context, brief and architectural study. Related references: How We Work · Bespoke Architecture Related project: YIN YANG Old HANGLAS.