Louisville was not part of the original Cities x Design itinerary but the 21c Museum Hotel changed the course of our trip. 21c is not only the cool creative magnet of downtown Louisville, it is also the first and only American museum dedicated to 21st century art.

Founded by art and design collectors Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown, the 21c was conceived as a place where people can experience thought-provoking art. The private collection owned by the couple is internally managed by an in-house curator and rotates regularly.

The unique museum-hotel combination introduces new crowds to the world of international contemporary art. According to Steve Wilson, the local population’s response to 21c has been very positive. As a result Louisville’s Main Street is now transitioning toward a new era rooted in art, design and creativity.

The latest project to date is Museum Plaza, across the street from 21c Museum, and another initiative of the Brown-Wilson duo. Described as a “city within a city”, Museum Plaza is an ambitious architectural project that encompasses 1.5 million square feet of multi-purpose space in multiple towers. It will blend art with retail, residential, office and educational spaces in order to strengthen the Main Street Historic District and eventually turn it into an exceptional destination in the region.

Louisville’s French ancestry shows in its “savoir-vivre”: art, good food, quality drinks and beautiful countryside are part of the local lifestyle. The city takes pride in its traditions and is also very skilled at creating new variations of its Southern culture (like the Green Building and 732 Social). This perfect balance between authenticity and open-mindedness left us with a strong impression. We can’t wait to see what Louisville tries next.