Casson Mann joined architects H20 and Snøhetta to give a press preview of our collaborative project, the Musée National de la Marine. Located in the west wing of the Palais de Chaillotat Trocadéro, within sight of the Eiffel Tower, the museum is being completely renovated and is due to reopen in November 2023.

Casson Mann’s scenography creates a balance between the needs of an authoritative museum, and the desire to create a dynamic and compelling visitor experience for a wide audience. The scheme includes huge, sculptural ‘landmarks’ that lead visitors through the museum, for example, a ship’s hull, a suspended shipping container and a giant wave animated by projections. Mindful of the needs of a classical museum and its collections, however, another highlight is the ship model gallery, where visitors have 360-degree views of the ships in the national collection.

The museum includes many imaginative ways to engage visitors: tactile models, interactives that allow you to create or design, places to sit and rest and reflect. Overall, our intention is to use all of the interpretative design tools: light, materials, sound, technology – as well as the power of the collections – to create an immersive and unforgettable museum, suitable for a 21^st century audience.

The new museum is aiming for universal levels of accessibility. Before reopening, the visitor experience will be fully tested by both able-bodied and disabled visitors. We look forward to the next preview this autumn.

Click here for more info on the development of this upcoming project.

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