World reference for photography

Founded in 1985 by Charles-Henri Favrod, the Photo Elysée is one of the most important museums in the world dedicated to photography.  Currently directed by Tatyana Franck, the museum is preparing to move to the new art district Plateform 10, together with the Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts and the mudac, where it will reopen in June 2022.

To this end, a huge operation has been set in motion to reorganise the collection of more than 1.2 million photographic images, from the first ever processes from 1840 to contemporary digital images, including the photographic archives of, among others, Charlie Chaplin, Ella Maillart, René Burri, Sabine Weiss and Olivier Föllmi, all brought together in the new location; a powerful and direct architecture designed by the firm Aires Mateus e Associados, a successful combination of two institutions, the mudac and the Photo Elysée, set on either side of a brightly-lit opening that bisects the space and marks the shared entrance. Situated at the base of the building, the museum occupies more than 3,800 m², with expanded spaces, scenographed  by Adrien Gardère, to host temporary exhibitions and a free presentation of its collections. The LabElysée, dedicated to digital culture, will also be visible. Opening image: The new buidling of Photo Elysée and mudac at Plateforme 10, october 2021 (© Matthieu Gafsou)