Roubaix art pool

Continuing our series of converted spaces, we present you the transformation of the stunning Art Deco public swimming pool from the northern french town of Roubaix into an art museum.
Built between 1927 and 1932 by the architect Albert Baert, the swimming pool had to be closed in 1985 due to safety problems. But instead of demolishing it and building a new one in its place, it was decided to give it a new function.

Architect Jean-Paul Philippon supervised the ten year repair work, adding a modern entrance building and constructing a special exhibition space in the adjoining former textile factory. Known as La Piscine Musee d'Art et d'Industrie, it opened in 2000. All expectations were exceeded by the 200.000 visitors attracted in the first year. These numbers have been growing ever since. In this manner, Roubaix is a fine example of capitalizing on the industrial past.

The new entrance

www.roubaix-lapiscine.com

Post-It Wars

Montreuil, a suburb of Paris, is the scene of an unusual confrontation for the last few months. Ubisoft and BNP Paribas are engaged in a post-it note war between their two company buildings. 
Before this, the two companys had little in common, but what started out as a single figure of video-game character Space Invader on a Ubisoft window grew into a conflict of epic proportions. All of a sudden the employees hidden passion for video game characters had been unveiled.
And when one company presented a giant Mario, the other responded with a character of Zelda.
This battle is not waged solely between the two companys, but different floors and departments are involved in their own confrontations.
 

Last Friday afternoon, while everybody was preparing for the weekend, Ubisoft unleashed a three-story assassin from the game Assasin's Creed. Some call it an attempt to end the game, a "chess-mate" move. We are still waiting for BNP's counterstrike.

More of this amusing conflict on: www.postitwar.com
Here you can see a report made by french television on the post-it wars:                               http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXqPw86P8_g&feature=related