The proposal developed by LYT-X Studio is presented as an example of the reuse and regeneration of coastal industrial heritage stripped of its original function. To broaden its reach to the local community and international tourism, the extensive roof houses a sequence of semi-open, continuous public spaces that gradually lead to the entrance of the new museum.
In line with sustainability criteria, the project introduces a series of strategically placed openings that ensure natural ventilation and optimize energy efficiency. Additionally, the incorporation of solar panels, rooftop vegetation, and landscaped courtyards helps regulate the microclimate and promote biodiversity.
Conceived as a new emblem of the city of Le Havre, the project responsibly addresses contemporary usage demands, transforming the Brise-Vent structure into a cultural landmark that respectfully connects past and future.
The extended curved roof canopy forms a continuous public edge above the waterfront dock and outdoor gathering spaces. Brise-Vent Havre Harbor Museum by LYT-X Studio. Rendering by LYT-X Studio.
Project description by LYT-X Studio
The Brise-Vent Havre Harbor Museum revitalizes a disused harbor structure into a contemporary cultural institution, re-establishing maritime heritage as an active component of public life rather than a preserved artifact. The project is positioned within a broader inquiry into how industrial waterfront heritage can be adaptively reused to support cultural continuity, urban regeneration, and long-term sustainability.
Design Concept
The design preserves the original harbor building as the primary historical layer while introducing a contemporary architectural intervention that extends the existing curved roof into a continuous canopy. This approach retains the building’s iconic roofline as a recognizable element of its industrial past, while reinterpreting it as an active spatial framework that mediates between land, water, and public use. Rather than serving as a purely symbolic gesture, the extended canopy organizes circulation, frames public gathering spaces, and provides environmental shelter, establishing a clear and functional dialogue between the historic fabric and its maritime context.
Interior view of the open exhibition area beneath the courtyard, designed for flexible cultural programming and public use. Brise-Vent Havre Harbor Museum by LYT-X Studio. Rendering by LYT-X Studio.
Extended Roof
Beneath the extended roof, a sequence of semi-open spaces unfolds, including a sheltered public courtyard and a new waterfront pier. This configuration enables multi-modal access to the museum, allowing visitors to arrive by foot, urban circulation, or directly from the water. By reintroducing water-based arrival, the project reactivates the harbor edge and repositions the museum as a connective urban hub rather than an isolated destination.
Flexible Exhibition Space
Internally, the museum accommodates flexible exhibition spaces, social platforms, and panoramic terraces overlooking the harbor. These spaces support exhibitions, education, performances, and informal cultural events, allowing the program to adapt over time. The architectural organization emphasizes openness and permeability, ensuring that cultural activity extends beyond enclosed galleries into shared public environments.
Public Courtyard
At the center of the project is a 24-hour publicly accessible courtyard, conceived as an open civic forum that remains active beyond museum operating hours. This continuous public space encourages everyday use, informal gathering, and social interaction, embedding cultural heritage into the rhythms of daily life. Through this strategy, heritage is transformed from a protected object into a lived urban node—one that supports both collective memory and contemporary social exchange.
Sustainability
Sustainability is integrated as a spatial and lifecycle strategy rather than a technical overlay. Adaptive reuse significantly reduces embodied carbon by retaining the existing structure, while the extended canopy provides passive shading and facilitates cross-ventilation driven by prevailing sea breezes. Courtyard openings and roof apertures introduce daylight deep into interior and lower-level exhibition spaces, reducing reliance on artificial lighting. Seasonal vegetation further moderates microclimatic conditions, ensuring long-term usability of the public realm.
By combining minimal and reversible intervention with continuous public access, the Brise-Vent project demonstrates how industrial waterfront heritage can be transformed into resilient cultural infrastructure. The project offers a repeatable model for integrating heritage preservation, public space, urban mobility, and environmental performance—contributing to ongoing discourse on adaptive reuse and cultural architecture at both urban and disciplinary scales.
