The Museum

Built in the Middle Ages, this mansion underwent numerous modifications over the following centuries by the illustrious Arlesian families who owned it (Nicolas des Alberts, Pierre Cabroll, or Honoré de Someyre). It was between 1717 and 1720 that Antoine Laugier, a wealthy bourgeois, gave it its monumental classical façade, inspired by the Town Hall.

It owes its current name to the Bouchaud de Bussy family, who owned it from 1723 to 1884. The interiors still retain traces of its past history, such as the androne (medieval covered passage), the grand staircase and its central light well, a true feat of 18th-century engineering, as well as the enfilade layout of the reception rooms and state bedrooms around a bright central courtyard.
To transform this Arlesian residence into a museum, Fragonard has partnered with Studio KO, founded by Karl Fournier and Olivier Marty, who designed and created the space's staging and museography.

Low-profile yet prolific, this duo of architects met on the benches of the École des Beaux-Arts before founding their agency in 2000. Having become a major force on the international scene, Studio KO now boasts around sixty employees across Paris, London and Marrakech. Following the prestigious Yves Saint Laurent museum, the Museum of Fashion and Costume marks their desire to embrace heritage through the creation of bespoke settings. Karl and Olivier instantly envisioned themselves within the walls of the Hôtel Bouchaud and sought to play with the tension between their contemporary universe and the classic allure of the location.

Concerned about the historical integrity of the building, they were also concerned about the textile collection, which is very fragile and requires special care, and the result lives up to their talented creativity.
To pair this metamorphosis with the preservation of the existing architectural heritage, they worked closely with the NDA architecture agency – Nathalie D’Artigues, who oversaw the historic rehabilitation of the building.

The monument's 1,000 m² have undergone extensive heritage restoration, on the one hand, and the transformation of the building into a museum, on the other. The immense restoration project, which lasted six years, allowed for the rediscovery of the original layout and volumes of the rooms, the reopening of the arches in the vestibule, as well as the restoration of the ceilings, inner courtyards, facades, roofs, joinery, and the historic staircase. A contemporary staircase, designed by Studio KO, has been installed at the rear of the facade, which has undergone a complete restoration.

The museum's atmosphere is the result of extensive research into the materiality and colour science of Provençal art de vivre. To this end, Studio KO opted for glossy floors evocative of Marseille faience, walls coloured like the boat sails that travel up the Rhône, and a gilded brass door, like a Provençal jewel, opening onto the magic of the collections, some pieces of which are sometimes over three centuries old.

Bringing together two collections, those of Hélène Costa and Magalie Pascal, this magnificent book tells the story of the genesis of the museum project in a stunning Arles mansion, renovated by the renowned architectural firm Studio KO, as well as its remarkable collections of Provençal costumes, textiles and jewellery from the 18th to the 20th century. Through a selection of iconic works, it highlights the richness of Provençal clothing heritage, textile expertise and the history of adornment over the centuries.

An immersion into the world of fashion and Provençal traditions, at the heart of a museum where heritage and contemporary creation are in harmonious dialogue.

254 pages, €55