Combining contemporary art and Gothic architecture: a concept that emerged after the fire at Notre-Dame de Paris, but was quickly discarded as part of its reconstruction. But Kengo Kuma has taken up the challenge in Angers, and the result is dazzling.
An architectural competition for a cathedral
Angers’ Saint-Maurice Cathedral is a 12th and 13th century religious edifice that has undergone a number of changes over the years. A gallery existed in the 13th century, but was demolished in 1807. In 2009, during maintenance work, the Gothic portal revealed polychromy worthy of special protection. The DRAC (Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles) then approved the principle of a new gallery in front of the pediment, where heritage and contemporary art would meet.
Internationally renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, renowned for his work on light and lightness, his use of natural materials, his concern for the environment and his “engawas”, Japanese outdoor passageways linking the interior and exterior, was selected for this original project. In a land where tufa is king, he chose to use the simplicity and purity of concrete, to design a building that would meet all the criteria.
A historic monument for the 21st century
In addition to the aesthetic and balanced qualities of the construction, light and shade are harmoniously combined, offering different perceptions of polychromy, and new forms of conviviality in this type of space usually renowned for its silence.
This contemporary extension blends in perfectly with the existing portal, giving the impression of Gothic architecture reinvented. A daring and successful gamble.
Photo credits: Kengo Kuma Associates
