At the Liberation, the inhabitants take ownership of their new Discovery Hall

Thursday, February 19th, at 6 p.m., under the large glass roof of the South Station, residents of the Libération neighborhood crowded in to discover the new Discovery Hall. Inaugurated by the Mayor of Nice, the venue opens its doors with the exhibition “Leonardo da Vinci, at the Crossroads of Art and Science,” dedicated to the Renaissance genius. But in the aisles, beyond the models and paintings, it is above all the future of this emblematic building that animates conversations.

“We needed a place like this“ In front of a Leonardo da Vinci model, Paul, 42, a resident of Vernier Street, observes attentively with his nine-year-old son. “The gourmet hall, we went there two or three times. It was nice, but it didn’t really fit the neighborhood. This is different. We can come with the children, take our time, learn things.“

A few meters away, Nadia, who has lived in the neighborhood for six years, emphasizes the importance of a place accessible to all: “between the market, the tram, the schools, there are a lot of families here. We lacked a cultural space where you can enter freely, without having to go downtown.“

With nearly 6,500 schoolchildren within a one-kilometer radius, Libération is one of Nice’s most dynamic neighborhoods. The opening of a major cultural facility had been eagerly awaited.

Read, play, experiment

The Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, Vitruvian Man… Beyond the immersive exhibition: giant models, 3D videos, reproductions of works… the Hall already offers a toy library and a central café. Spaces designed to extend the visit, but also to gather there daily.

Marc, a retiree and former market merchant, is already envisioning it: “I’ve lived here for 40 years. I knew the station when it was closed, then the construction, then the restaurants. If it becomes a meeting place, with lectures, games, regular activities, it could really create connection.“

Teenagers are not forgotten. Inès, 15, imagines the announced comic book library: “if they put recent manga, I’ll come. It’s nicer than staying home.“

In the end, a Fablab (a fabrication laboratory with digital equipment, Editor’s note) and an art library will complete the cultural offering, with the possibility to experiment with 3D printing or even borrow a work of art. An ambition that goes beyond simply programming temporary exhibitions.

A reinvented symbol

In an area long perceived as having fewer major cultural facilities than downtown, the opening of the Discovery Hall is experienced as a strong signal.

On the forecourt, Jean-Claude, a historic resident of “Libé,” sums up the general feeling: “the South Station is a symbol. It nearly disappeared. If today it becomes a lively place for the people of Nice, then it’s a fine revenge!“

In his speech, the mayor spoke of his personal attachment to the neighborhood and the desire to “return the Hall to the people of Nice.” The expression circulated in the hall, repeated in hushed tones by some visitors to the library.

It remains to be seen whether residents will sustainably appropriate this new space. Judging by the crowd at the opening and the palpable curiosity under the glass roof, the first step seems already to be achieved.