This is the most anticipated cultural project in Normandy for the next five years. Art collector Jean Claude Gandur chose Caen (Calvados) to build the museum that will house his world-famous collection of 5,000 by 2030. We already know that the building will be installed on one of the city’s popular sites, between the Caen Memorial, a spearhead of memory in Normandy, and Bird Hill, an extraordinary green space.
Eight architects are still in the running
It remains to be seen what kind of museum Jean-Claude Gandur deliberately wanted for the 21st century. And indeed, the project is now truly entering the operational stage. “Of the 60 architectural firms we consulted, eight were selected. We required our candidates to have designed at least two or three important museums, we explained to the Gandur Foundation. We were also sensitive to new environmental approaches to the use of new materials, but also to the development of a park that would surround the museum.”
High level curator
The final project could be unveiled in the first quarter of 2026 at Caen town hall. “If there is something that stands out, we present it in March. If we have to decide between several candidates, we wait until June,” continued the collector’s collaborator. And the revival of this project does not stop there… The Foundation has also launched a recruitment process for future museum directors.
“We are looking for a high-level curator. He must be experienced and very knowledgeable about new technologies. » Jean-Claude Gandur even hopes that this recruitment will happen quickly enough so that the director can work with the architect as soon as he is appointed.
Recall that even before the implementation of this project, this summer’s Caen town hall showcased some of the Foundation’s works which had achieved a truly unexpected success, attracting more than 50,000 visitors in just three months, while only 80 works were on display!
