La Gaîté Lyrique in Paris, France by Manuelle Gautrand Architecture

Article source: Manuelle Gautrand Architecture

Re-structuring an old theatre of the 19th century in the heart of Paris to turn it into an interactive platform for 21st century music and arts poses a number of difficult problems. To sum them up we have conceived of a place that could cater to all the artistic activities of today, a place open to public visits but that was also a working studio where artists could actually create, produce and present.

Image Courtesy Philippe Ruault

• Architects: Manuelle Gautrand Architecture
• Project: La Gaîté Lyrique
• Location: Paris, France
• Surface: 9.500 sqm, 5 levels open to the public and 2 private levels (where there are work spaces reserved to the artists). A total capacity of 1.400 peoples. The facade, the lobby and the historic foyer are originals (1862) and where restaurated. All other places were rebuild.
• Big room: 300 seating places / 750 standing places, adjustable stage: multiple heights, configuration and surfaces; 46 independent screens spread out over the 4 sides of the room for total immersion of the audience.
• Software used: a number of architectural and graphic design software programs, but for the most part the architects work with AutoCad

Image Courtesy Philippe Ruault

• Small room: 100 places,
• Auditorium: 130 places, In the echo chamber take place a sensory rug which allows the visitor to set off sounds over 9 loudspeakers.
• Studios: 1 rehearsal studio (or film studio), 1 recording studio and 3 multimedia studios are reserved for artists in residence and workshops.
• Global cost: around 62 million euro inclusive of tax
• Dates: 10/2010: delivery, 03/2011: inauguration

Image Courtesy Philippe Ruault

The design priorities are clear: create three main production facilities, three spaces for live shows. Around these three anchor points unfold a continuum of fluid and mobile breathing spaces to serve alternately as work studios and presentation spaces: sets for the digital arts and modern music, for performers and for the public. They include media library, exhibition areas, foyers, café, rehearsal studios, etc…

Image Courtesy Philippe Ruault

Our objective was to create a permissive place that includes whatever is random and unexpected, a place that defines itself without predefining everything, that enables encounters in fusion and breaks down barriers between the digital arts, the music of today and new modes of exchange between the public and artists.

Image Courtesy Vincent Fillon

To animate these fluctuations of programme and accompany the many changes in spatial layout, mobile guide modules, called “Eclaireuses” are provided. Mounted on rollers, these container-size units move from place to place, creating a changing scenography. There are today 70 Eclaireuses in the building Also assisting the public in its movements is a long dodecaedric furniture ribbon that threads the entire layout: welcoming, accompanying, and providing rest.

Image Courtesy Vincent Fillon

Image Courtesy Vincent Fillon

Image Courtesy Vincent Fillon

Image Courtesy Vincent Fillon

Image Courtesy Vincent Fillon

Image Courtesy Vincent Fillon

Image Courtesy Philippe Ruault

Tags: France, Paris

Categories: Art Gallery, Art Studio, Autocad, Theater

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