La Platine

The Platine, in Saint-Étienne

The Platine is the astonishing contemporary building of concrete and glass that shelters the City of Design, on the site of the former Arms Manufactory of Saint-Étienne. The Saint-Étienne audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this futuristic vessel, symbol of the creative reconversion of the town become capital of design.

The vessel of the City of Design

You are facing a strange creature of concrete and glass, all in length, placed like a vessel in the middle of the old manufactory: it is the Platine. And it is not only a building, it is a footbridge between two worlds that you are about to cross. The Platine is indeed the flagship building of the City of Design, the great creative hub laid out on the site of the former Arms Manufactory, there where formerly arms were manufactured for the armies of France. This spectacular reconversion illustrates the mutation of Saint-Étienne: a working-class and industrial town, hardly struck by the decline of its traditional industries, it has been able to reinvent itself by betting on creation and design, to the point of being recognised UNESCO City of Design, the only one in France. The Platine, with its resolutely contemporary architecture, its long silhouette and its façade of glass and metal with openwork motifs, symbolises this passage from industry to design, from the old to the new. The building shelters exhibitions, spaces of creation, training and research, and hosts notably the famous International Design Biennale. A futuristic vessel and a symbol of renaissance, the Platine is a fine stop of the discovery of Saint-Étienne.

What to see

You admire the astonishing contemporary building of concrete and glass, all in length like a vessel, flagship building of the City of Design laid out on the site of the former Arms Manufactory; its façade of glass and metal with openwork motifs symbolises the passage from industry to design, illustrating the creative reconversion of Saint-Étienne, the only UNESCO City of Design in France, that hosts the International Design Biennale. The Platine is a symbol of renaissance of Saint-Étienne. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Platine lies on the site of the City of Design, in the district of the Manufactory, in Saint-Étienne, reachable on foot and by public transport. The visit of the exhibitions and the spaces follows its own hours and conditions, which vary according to the programme. It is best to check them before coming.

What is the Platine in Saint-Étienne?

The astonishing contemporary building of concrete and glass, all in length like a vessel, flagship building of the City of Design laid out on the site of the former Arms Manufactory; its façade of glass and metal with openwork motifs symbolises the passage from industry to design, and it hosts exhibitions, spaces of creation and the International Design Biennale, illustrating the creative renaissance of the town.

Where is the Platine in Saint-Étienne?

On the site of the City of Design, in the district of the Manufactory, in Saint-Étienne, in France.