PLATFORM 10

It's a hymn to Swiss creativity and contemporary art! It's an "arts district" born of a beautiful project whose aim is to "develop a multidisciplinary artistic platform open to the world". And it's a success. Occupying the site of the former locomotive hall, Plateforme 10 is well worth a visit. The architecture of the buildings itself is well worth a look. The name Plateforme 10 comes from its proximity to the railway station. The number 10 refers to an additional platform, as the station has nine. As for the zero in the logo, crossed out with the word platform, it evokes the hub where locomotives are dispatched. The site brings together three associated institutions: the Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts (MCBA), Photo Élysée (the cantonal photography museum) and the Musée cantonal de Design et d'Arts appliqués contemporains (MUDAC). The result is a wonderful synergy between the world of photography and the world of contemporary and fine arts. The Fondation Félix Vallotton (1865-1925), a Swiss artist, and the Fondation Toms Pauli (tapestries and embroideries from the ^16th to the ^19th centuries) add to this ensemble. Arcades house the Arcadia restaurant, the Nabi Bar, Caran d'Ache areas and creative spaces. 25,000^m2 stretch along the railroad tracks and former railway warehouses. The esplanade between the buildings and the arcades is designed to be "alive"; with terraces in summer, it is a passageway open to cyclists and pedestrians. The interior of the Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts building is a must-see, as are those of the MUDAC and Photo Élysée. The architectural structures are works of art in themselves. In fact, as soon as you enter the buildings, you'll be able to admire beautiful perspectives throughout your visit, thanks to the structure of the whole, the light, the large volumes, the superb views offered by the wide windows overlooking the lake, and the diverse and original perspectives offered by the staircases.

The temporary exhibitions, brimming with creativity and originality, are a must-see: a tribute to originality and to the discovery of another view of the world, that of the artist. Platform 10's temporary exhibitions are dynamic, rich and varied. The designers of the site have thought of all audiences, including children, of course, with workshops devoted to them organized on a regular basis.