Decorated in 1928 by three artists from the avant-garde artistic movements, the Aubette leisure complex was an essential part of Strasbourg’s cultural life in the 1930’s. Today, it hosts a contemporary programme echoing its heritage vocation.

At the outset, the Aubette leisure complex occupies four levels and includes several different leisure spaces. Thus, in a single evening, the public can dance, have a drink, play billiards or even go to the cinema in the Aubette. The leisure complex embodies modernity not only with regard to the services it proposes but also to its decor, which is designed by Theo Van Doesburg, Sophie Taeuber-Arp and Jean Arp.

Coming from the avant-garde artistic movements that emerged after the First World War, the three artists see in the Aubette project an opportunity to put the principles borne by these artistic trends into practise on a large scale. The ambition of these movements is to break with the art of the past and propose new forms and a new aesthetic able to create a total work of art. At the Aubette, this utopia takes the shape of a radical intervention based on use of the geometric grid. Thus, all elements, from the decor of the walls to the furniture and signposting, are designed and created by the three artists.

The modernity of the decors  inaugurated on 16 February 1928, is condemned by the public. The integrity of the decors is subsequently called into question by the managers of the leisure complex who start making ornamental additions in line with the tastes of the time a few months after the inauguration. In 1938, all the decors designed by Theo Van Doesburg, Sophie Taeuber-Arp and Jean Arp are covered over, thus hiding the original work.

Following several years of research, the first floor of the Aubette is listed as an historic monument and restored in 2006.

The decors in the Aubette are today considered a remarkable work of the modern period. Aubette 1928 now hosts a contemporary programme echoing its heritage vocation.

Aubette 1928

Place Kleber