en.Wedoany.com Reported - The renovation of the Abbaye Saint-Vaast in Arras, France, has entered a critical phase. This historic building, originally founded in the 7th century, will be fitted with a massive glass canopy and a luxury hotel project will be developed. The abbey covers 20,000 square meters, of which approximately 10,000 square meters of space that has been vacant for nearly two decades will be converted into a hotel lobby. The glass canopy is being installed by the company Viry.
The abbey was founded in the 7th century, redesigned in the 18th century by architect Jean-François Labbé, and after being destroyed in World War I, it was rebuilt under the direction of Pierre Paquet until 1934. The envelope restoration project initiated by the City of Arras in 2023 has a total cost of €25 million (excluding tax), aiming to fully repair the building's exterior. The work is being carried out in three phases, including treating 8,500 square meters of nailed slate roofs, 12,500 square meters of facades, and approximately 100 century-old windows. During the construction period, the cultural center occupying about half of the building's area (including the media library and the Museum of Fine Arts) remains open.
To develop tourism facilities using the vacant areas, the city government selected a hotel project led by BC Neoximo and the Naos Group, with participation from Maes Architectes Urbanistes and BET Nortec, at the end of 2019. After the Naos Group failed to fulfill its contract, the city government signed a new long-term lease with the HPC Group at the end of 2025. The HPC Group plans to invest between €27 million and €30 million in the hotel's interior renovation. The project remains under the responsibility of the Lille-based firm Maes and Nortec, with Banque des territoires providing €5 million in equity.
The "Cour du Puits" (Well Courtyard), which will soon be covered by the glass canopy, is the smallest of the three courtyards in the building and is located at the intersection of the hotel and the cultural center. Emilie Bigorne, the deputy mayor responsible for the Saint-Vaast project, stated that this public square will become a central hub connecting the city, allowing residents to access the museum through it.
The current focus of the work is to securely fix double-glazed, screen-printed glass panels onto a metal frame to limit solar radiation. Gwendoline Thépaut of the Pierre-Antoine Gatier agency, the chief architect for historic monuments, explained that the design combines a three-centered arch (symbolizing 18th-century architectural style) with a double-pitched roof (echoing Pierre Paquet's traditional covering method). This agency, along with BET Egis, is responsible for the design and supervision of the envelope renovation project launched over the past three years.
The redevelopment of the museum within the cultural center is also on the agenda, with related tenders currently underway, budgeted at approximately €15 million (excluding tax). According to the plan, by 2030, the abbey will begin to operate with both cultural and tourism functions.
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