In a bid to reinvent itself as a cultural, leisure and shopping quarter, Le Havre’s port area is to get a $39m marine centre[cb]and swimming pool complex, courtesy of Jean Nouvel.

The main feature is a 394ft-high glass and steel tower. Inspiration came, Nouvel says, from the port’s industrial machinery.

The idea is that the tower’s two platforms will act as exhibition space for all things port-like.