Just two steps from the Opera, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Town Hall, the Terreaux gallery has been in a deep slumber for nearly thirty years. It’s a space that’s perfectly located, yet it has only hosted a few fleeting events, as if its potential has been put on hold. This long pause is finally coming to an end: Lyon is getting ready to breathe new life into this urban wasteland that's been forgotten for far too long.
A renaissance centered around repair
Supported by the City of Lyon and the SEM Patrimoniale du Grand Lyon, the project aims to turn this gallery into a true City of Repair Artisans, a place fully dedicated to repair, reuse, and the circular economy. The idea is simple:
alive, creative, and useful hub that reconnects the people of Lyon to more sustainable practices. Small appliances, electronics, bikes, clothing, everyday items: everything that can be repaired will find a second life here.
By focusing on craftsmanship, transformation, and “Made in Lyon,” the goal is to raise awareness among locals about more responsible consumption habits. This unique place in the metropolis aims to complement the already vibrant ecosystem of creative initiatives in the area. It will be both a repair space and a laboratory of ideas, where reusing becomes a given rather than a last resort.
A colossal project aimed for completion in 2028
Since April 2025, the first demolition and asbestos removal operations have been carried out to bring the site up to standards. The next phase will begin in the spring of 2026, with renovations of the facades and restrooms, aiming for completion in the winter of the same year. And just as much…
to say that the investment matches the ambition: 1.65 million euros committed by the City, plus an additional 2.5 million from SEMPAT for the future development of the Cité.
If everything goes as planned, the City of Repairing Artisans will open in 2028. This date is still subject to the upcoming municipal election uncertainties, but the movement is underway. After thirty years of being forgotten, the gallery of Terreaux is finally beginning its transformation – late, of course, but essential to bring life back to an iconic place in the heart of Lyon.