Former Cognac bottling factory is home to new French culture foundation

One of France’s most famous brands of Cognac, Martell, has launched a new cultural foundation based in one of its former bottling factories. The new organisation, the Fondation d’Entreprise Martell, is housed in Gatebourse, a celebrated modernist building which was inaugurated in 1929.

Officials at the new foundation plan to turn the Gatebourse building located in central Cognac, western France, into a “multifaceted cultural hub”, according to a project statement. The cultural programme—encompassing art, design, architecture, crafts and technology—will be overseen by the foundation director Nathalie Viot

A new site-specific installation by the French artist Vincent Lamouroux marked the launch of the foundation venue earlier this month (until 31 January 2017). The work, entitled By Nature, is on display on the ground floor.

Vincent Lamouroux's Par nature (2016) installation in the Fondation d’entreprise Martell (Photo: © DR Fondation d’entreprise Martell)

“It is made of sand, wood, glass crystals, plants—all materials used for the fabrication of the Martell Cognac bottles,” says a spokeswoman for Martell. “The entire piece is covered with white lime, creating an incredible effect. A white halo [of sand] spreads around the work and out under the visitors.”

After extensive renovations, other parts of the building, such as the roof terrace, are due to open in spring 2018; the refurbishment of the entire 6,000 sq. m space is scheduled for completion by 2021. The budget for the renovation is undisclosed.