Bordeaux to Open Les Bassins de Lumières, the World’s Largest Digital Art Center

This April, a French city known mostly for its world-famous wines will open the world’s largest digital art center on the site of a former bunker from World War II.

Les Bassins de Lumières, translated to “the pools of light,” will open in Bordeaux April 17, in the same location where Germans stored U-boats nearly a century ago. The renovated and refurbished site still features concrete and steel elements from its original construction, but has been accented with a shimmering reflecting pool and four watersheds where exhibitions will rotate.

Art will be projected onto concrete walls and will reflect onto the water in a space twice the size of Carrières de Lumieres, which debuted in Baux-de-Provence in 2012. Scenes also will be video-projected to incorporate movement and true immersion for visitors.

Six different areas will comprise the museum, including Le Cube, an immersive, sound-proof area; Le Citern, an area where visitors can view the original versions of the art displayed by projectors; Les Grand Nenuphars, where the digital art will be displayed on the water; an area where visitors can learn more about the history of the bunker; an educational section to explain the science and technology of the displays; and a mezzanine floor with a stage and seating area for presentations and performances.