Countdown for the opening of the Musée des Confluences in Lyon

The countdown is on for the opening of the Musée des Confluences in Lyon.

In fact, there’s less than a month until the futuristic structure that holds the rich heritage from the

Musée d’Histoire Naturelle – Guimet is to be opened. As part of a wide-ranging, dynamic cultural project, the museum is inviting the public to think about current problems, strategies and challenges.

Its aim is to look back over the many years of the human adventure as a way of understanding the complexity of the world, highlighting the different phases, changes, periods of stagnation and progress over the years.

Its name comes from its privileged geographic position where the Rhône and the Saône meet. The architects that designed the museum – the Vienna-based group Coop Himmelb(l)au – refer to it as the “crystal cloud of knowledge” because of its large glass structure, which will allow visitors to get a clear view of themes of technology, biology and ethics on the horizon. The layout of the permanent collection follows a path of over 3,000 square meters and tells of the great “performance” that is humanity in four distinct sections. These sections represent issues having to do with our origins, the destiny of humanity, diversity of cultures and civilizations as well as man’s role in the chain of life. Specific sections allow visitors to fully immerse themselves into the topics taken on. Each section provides a full overview of the museum’s collections with various objects. By using different disciplines that interact with one another and without any set truth, the museum invites visitors to embark upon a journey of knowledge that is open to new ways of thinking.

Goppion’s work on the exhibition layout took place in two different permanent galleries – “Species, the living world” dedicated to the place of man in biodiversity (designed by the Studio Zen+d Co.) and “Society, the theater of man” dedicated to social structure and coexistence (Studio Du&Ma.). The first gallery is meant to exhibit animal collections. For the smallest animals (insects, mollusks, etc.), nine display cases were specially created, all of which feature different looks and styles – some of which are asymmetrical to seem like caves – but which all have a triangular base. Large mammals are placed on faceted bases, which are also triangular, in shiny, lacquered wood. A large metallic net-like structure comes down over everything from the ceiling as a way to characterize the space and symbolize links of DNA.

The second section, which has a simpler appearance but is more sophisticated in terms of museum technology, is dedicated to works having to do with the creativity of man.

In the large round room, which has a parquet floor with a sunburst pattern, large inclined bases hold various human creations from ancient Japanese clothing to home appliances all the way to automobiles, some of which are protected by large glass bell structures that allow for a complete view.

At the entrance to the room, there’s a curved wall made of steel wires that stretch to the ceiling. This wall holds informational monitors. On the opposite side, three light fixtures give off intense beams of light in different colors to delineate the spaces dedicated to multimedia.