Sycomore And the Roubaix Swimming Pool: A Unique Artistic Collaboration for the Production of Audiovisual Content

The André Diligent Museum of Art and Industry has been installed since 2001 in a former municipal swimming pool…hence its name! but also on the site of the former Hannart-Fréres textile establishments, which adjoined it. Inside, we discover the extraordinary pool of the old swimming pool, inaugurated in 1932, which operated until 1985. It has brought joy to several generations of Roubais residents.

The Sycomore company played a key role in promoting this museum through the production of audiovisual content in three languages, intended to support visitors during their discovery of the museum’s works and exhibitions. This collaboration reflects a dialogue between art, history and technology, and highlights the importance of sound and commentary in enriching the visitor experience.

The Roubaix Swimming Pool: A Place at the Heart of History and Art

The history of the swimming pool begins in 1912, when Jean Lebas was elected mayor of Roubaix. A left-wing man from a working-class family, Lebas wants to fight against tuberculosis, which wreaked havoc in unsanitary housing after the First World War. He decided to create a bathing establishment to meet the hygiene needs of this city of 125,000 inhabitants. For this he chose a northern architect, Albert Baert, who chose to create a building organized around an interior courtyard, in the style of Cistercian monasteries.

Work began in 1927 and lasted until 1932. Success was immediate and in the 1930s, up to 500,000 people flocked there each year. The swimming pool is part of the collective memory of Roubais.

When it had to close in 1985 for security reasons, it was decided to transform it into a museum, bringing together several collections and donations.

A Museum Where Art Meets Industry

Marked by the industrial adventure of Roubaix, the museum is a place of confrontation between applied arts and Fine Arts, where forms and disciplines interact: painting refers to the decorative arts, sculpture to architecture, to fashion, to the art of furniture.

Textile collections, ranging from Coptic Egypt to the most contemporary creations, are presented in the old shower cabins. Around the pool the most spectacular sculptures are presented. The collection includes works by Rodin, Claudel, Joffre, Bugatti, Pompon and Mérignargues.

The painting collection, exclusively devoted to the 19th and 20th centuries, exhibits paintings by Vuillard, Bonnard, Dufy, Van Dongen, Marquet, Foujita and Gromaire.

As for the decorative art collection, it offers a wide panorama of objects, including numerous ceramics by Picasso and Dufy, stained glass windows by Grüber, glassworks by Gallé, as well as furniture and jewelry.

Audiovisual Production By Sycomore: An Immersive Sound Experience

The Sycomore company was chosen to carry out the oral presentation of the visit to the La Piscine de Roubaix museum. In this context, 54 audio commentaries were produced on the emblematic works and themes of the museum. These commentaries are available in three languages ​​(French, Dutch, and English), allowing an international audience to appreciate the cultural and artistic riches of the place.

Sycomore was able to enhance the unique architecture of the museum by integrating sound effects which highlight the beauty of the building and reinforce the understanding of the works. Sound is not just a passive accompaniment, but an active element of the visit, which highlights details often imperceptible to the naked eye. Through this approach, visitors are immersed in a multi-sensory experience, where audio and art meet to create a captivating artistic journey.

Commented and Personalized Temporary Exhibitions

In addition to permanent content, Sycomore also took charge of producing commentaries for several temporary exhibitions, thus offering a diversity of stories and formats adapted to each theme. Some of the most notable exhibitions include:

• “Crossing the Light”: The traveling exhibition defends the cause of a group of French painters, close to each other, who, in the aftermath of the Second World War, preferred that their works be called “non-figurative” rather than ‘ “abstract”, as opposed to those of the masters of pure abstraction.
• “The Algeria of Gustave Guillaumet”: A journey through the paintings of Gustave Guillaumet. (1840-1887), essential figure of 19th century orientalist painting
• “Marcel Gromaire, the elegance of force”: Vast monographic exhibition dedicated to Marcel Gromaire (1892-1971), an essential figure in realistic and humanist art from the North.
• “The Cry of Liberty: Political Chagall”: The exhibition presents the artist’s work in light of the historical events he witnessed and participated in, and thus constitutes the first complete reading of his work under the angle of positions taken and commitment.

Sycomore has also innovated in the form of these commentaries, introducing interviews with experts and curators, allowing visitors to gain a deeper insight into the artistic intention behind each work.

Sycamore: A Key Partner in Enriching Visual Experiences

Thanks to its know-how in the production of audio-visual content, Sycomore contributes to making museums more accessible and engaging for everyone. By combining narration, sound effects and interviews, the company offers an immersive experience to visitors, allowing them to explore not only the works, but also the history and unique architecture of the place. Sycomore’s intervention at La Piscine de Roubaix paid homage to the history of the city, while offering visitors a fresh look at the works on display. Whether through detailed comments or evocative soundscapes.