Good news for urban culture fans. By 2028, the department of Seine-Saint-Denis should be home to a major museum dedicated to street art and hip-hop culture. The name of the museum is "L'Aérosol Saint-Denis". And it is to be built on the site of the famous " Cathedrals of Rail " in the 93 district of Paris.
Abandoned in 1990, these huge 8400 m² railway halls are to be rehabilitated. At the time, these impressive sheds were used for SNCF train maintenance. Since 2004, these halls have been listed on the supplementary inventory of historic monuments. By 2028, these " cathedrals of the railways " will be home to a museum devoted entirely to street art and hip-hop culture.
This follows a call for projects launched in 2021 by SNCF Immobilier, in partnership with the City of Saint-Denis and Plaine Commune. Recently, Eiffage Aménagement and Equans France were chosen as the winners of this renovation project. This ambitious, large-scale project includes the construction of a new eco-responsible, sustainable neighborhood and the creation of a museum, " l'Aérosol Saint-Denis ", all on a 6-hectare railway wasteland.
The museum will be supported by Hip Hop Citoyens and Maquis-Art, who were already behind the ephemeral "L'Aérosol" spot that opened in 2017 in Paris's 18th arrondissement.
Thanks to the incredible volumes of the two Cathedrals (19 meters high ceilings) and the industrial architecture, " l'Aérosol Saint-Denis " will offer " an unprecedented showcase for the works of art ", as explained in a press release. What about programming? The museum, dedicated to street art and hip-hop culture, plans to offer a wide range of cultural activities, including exhibitions, events for the general public and private tours.
" The Cathedrals of the Railways are today a heritage site, and will be tomorrow a formidable embodiment of the transformation of an industrial past into a project for cities united around cultural, resilience and outreach issues. The City of Saint-Denis and the Plaine Commune region will continue to embody hip-hop culture and to be the center of gravity for urban cultures ", stated Mathieu Hanotin, Mayor of Saint-Denis, in the same press release.
So, can't wait to push open the doors of this huge museum dedicated to street art and hip-hop? We don't yet know the exact opening date. But if all goes according to plan, the museum should open its doors by 2028. The project is part of Saint-Denis' bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2028. And there's no doubt that this future Francilian cultural venue, located on the site of the " Cathedrals of Rail " in Saint-Denis, will be the talk of the town.
