Hangar Y : the huge cultural place in Meudon, our pictures

With 200,000 visitors expected per year in the park and 60,000 in the sumptuous building with its immense glass roof, the Hangar Y site is one of those unifying cultural and event venues whose reopening was eagerly awaited. Located in the heart of nature, in a sublime 9-hectare park on the heights of Meudon in the Hauts-de-Seine department, Hangar Y showcases the work of several artists on universal themes such as art, science and nature.

Hangar Y is a 70-metre-long, 23-metre-high building with 3,500 m2 of exhibition space and a large Eiffel-style nave, as well as a huge park with sculptures, a 3-hectare pool and entertainment and catering facilities. With Hangar Y, visitors are invited to immerse themselves in an experience combining"history and modernity, technical prowess, art and sublimated nature", as the official website puts it.

Unsurprisingly, the reopening of Hangar Y in Meudon is causing quite a stir. The site, the first airship hangar, is considered a jewel in France's industrialheritage. Here's a look back at the history of this unique complex in the Paris region. It was in 1878, on the occasion of the Paris Universal Exhibition, that this fabulous building was constructed by architect Henri de Dion. It became the world's first airship workshop. The Hangar Y 's reputation came to the fore on August 9, 1884, when the building hosted the world's first closed-circuit airship flight.

Unfortunately, over the years, this jewel of 19th-century industrial architecture fell into oblivion. After being transformed into the first Air and Space Museum after the First World War, Hangar Y closed its doors for good in 1981. In 1990, the site passed into the hands of the French Ministry of Culture. 10 years later, it was listed as a historic monument. We'll have to wait until 2018 to see the rehabilitation project come to fruition.

After a pre-opening event in 2022, Hangar Y will truly rise from the ashes in 2023, after 40 long years of neglect. Already open to privatization since January, Hangar Y is now set to open its doors to the general public from March 22, 2023.

Hangar Y: a cultural and events venue

But what can we expect? The artistic program orchestrated by the Art Explora Foundation promises to be rich and eclectic, appealing to families as well as art, science and nature lovers. During a press tour organized on March 21, 2023, we had the opportunity to discover this new cultural mecca in the Paris region.

Once on this immense 9-hectare site, you can't help but be impressed by the grandeur of Hangar Y. Our gaze is immediately drawn to the incredible glass roof, and the beautiful luminosity that only enhances the works on display. Then there's the iron structure, the exposed brickwork, and the mezzanines on either side of the central nave.

But the highlight of the show is to be discovered from above. Suspended from the structure is the monumental, permanent installation by Korean artist Lee Bul, entitled"Willing To Be Vulnerable". Like a tribute to the history of the site, this majestic work in the shape of a dirigible balloon is a real eye-catcher.

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The Hangar Y is also unveiling its very first exhibition this spring. Entitled " Dans l'air, les machines volantes" (In the Air, Flying Machines ), this artistic event features collectibles, archives and photos by over fortycontemporary artists. As if in a cabinet of curiosities, visitors are invited to enter the minds of some of the world's greatest creative minds, passionate about flying machines of all kinds.

In the air, flying machines: the inaugural exhibition of the Hangar Y, our photos
"In the air, flying machines" is the title of the very first large temporary exhibition to be seen at the Hangar Y, this new cultural place to discover in the Hauts-de-Seine. On the program? More than 120 works mixing videos, films, installations, paintings, drawings, models, photos and archives about flying machines and the fascination of flying. [Read more]

In all, Hangar Y offers two major temporary exhibitions a year. The venue is also committed to VR, with an immersive experience that allows visitors to rediscover the history of the site through the use of a headset. Hangar Y, which also houses a café and store, is only open to the general public on weekends, public holidays and school vacations (except December 25 and January 1), from 10am to 8pm.

On the other hand, the park welcomes visitors throughout the week, offering them a veritable journey through open-air works of art that resonate with nature. The site features two permanent installations by Subodh Gupta and Christian Boltanski. While Gupta has created an incredible work entitled " Cooking the world " from over 1,000 used pots and pans from India, Boltanski bewitches us with his 180 twinkling bells.

For the rest, visitors are invited to discover works byIda Ekblad, Wang Keping, Kiki Smith, Stefan Rinck, Sarah Lucas and Ernesto Neto. These works are on display at several locations in the park and undergrowth, offering walkers a truly poetic interlude. In all, 27 works by 18 artists in dialogue with nature can be admired on this stroll that awakens all the senses. What's more? The possibility of interacting with some of them, for example by climbing or sitting on them.

Finally, the site, which revolves around Hangar Y, the park and the undergrowth, features the extension of two buildings: a workshop dedicated to events and privatization, and a 300-cover restaurant. Conceived by the Perchoir team, and managed by Michelin-starred chef Guillaume Sanchez, this country house-style setting will offer bistronomic cuisine throughout the week, right on the water's edge.

In short, there's no shortage of reasons to come and discover the Hangar Y revival. But one question is likely to be asked frequently: how do you get to the site, located on the edge of the forest? There are several possibilities, starting with public transport, with RER line C (Meudon Val Fleury station), Transilien line N (Meudon station) or buses 169, 289 and 389. If you prefer to come by car or bike, there's also a dedicated parking area. Last but not least, Hangar Y will be offering (until the end of April) private shuttles from Paris, in partnership with Transdev.

So, are you ready to push open the doors of the new Hangar Y in Meudon? Join us on March 22, 2023 to discover this new cultural venue in the Paris region.