Museum La Piscine

La Piscine – André Diligent Art and Industrial Museum, which opened its doors on October 21, 2001, is installed on the site of the former Art Deco municipal swimming pool, at the initiative of the mayor Jean-Baptiste Lebas, was built between 1927 and 1932 according to plans by the Lille architect, Albert Baert (1863-1951).  Today registered as a 20th century heritage, at the time, this pool offered high-quality sports and hygiene services equipped with an innovative social operation which presented the image of a municipal team of working-class origins and capable of promoting exceptional and prestigious projects.

In 1985, because of the fragile nature of its vault, the pool closed its doors to the great regret of the Roubaix citizens who were very attached to the place. For over fifty years, the Roubaix swimming pool welcomed numerous swimmers which allowed for a fabulous social mix that was unique in the city.

In May 1994, the jury selected the proposal made by Jean-Paul Philippon which followed the recommendations and scenario developed in the cultural project drafted by the preservation team: “To build an inclusive museum”. The project respected the site’s soul, integrated imperatives for space and preservation required by the collections, and made it possible to develop the energy for animation and events wanted by the municipal and museum team. Work began in January 1998. It was completed in the Autumn of 2001, preparing the monument for a new life.

The applied arts collection is displayed in the old pool area, with the showers and changing rooms transformed into glass cases and consulting rooms. The Fine Arts collection follows a chronological and thematic sequence in the former bath wings. The old pump room has become the museum restaurant, and the gift shop is now housed in the spectacular setting of the filter room. The mosaics with their marine decor along the basin’s edge mark the new changing scenography combing a decorative and monumental sculpture garden, and a 40-metre length of water filled by the sandstone Neptune (The Lion) which can be covered with a floor for receptions, exhibitions, fashion shows, and more. The cloisters garden has been transformed into a botanical garden focussing on plants used in the textile industry (fibres, dyes, mordanting).