The museum is installed in a private residence built in Bordeaux at the end of the 18th century. The museum’s collections represent a fine example of French decorative arts, from Bordeaux in particular, of the 18th and 19th centuries, and provide testimony of the history of Bordeaux, major trading port in the 18th century. The program, also turned on the contemporary times, demonstrates its willingness to become an important place for the diffusion of design culture in France. In 2016, the exhibition area is extended with the opening of the former prison located at the rear of the museum. In 2018, the two buildings are classified as historic monuments by the Ministry of Culture.
