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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Zuidplein Theatre in Rotterdam, The Netherlands by De Zwarte HondJuly 20th, 2020 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: De Zwarte Hond A cultural heart for Rotterdam-Zuid Zuidplein Theatre is the new cultural hotspot of Rotterdam-Zuid. A new theatre building replaces the adjacent existing 1953 structure, housing two auditoriums, a café/restaurant and a branch of the Rotterdam Library. Designed by De Zwarte Hond, Zuidplein Theatre is developed and realised as a Design/Build/Maintain project by Heijmans and Ballast Nedam.  Image Courtesy © Scagliola Brakkee, A semi-transparent veil drapes delicately over the entrance and lobby.
 Image Courtesy © Scagliola Brakkee, The veil is made of anodised aluminium.
 Image Courtesy © Scagliola Brakkee, Due to its central location on the new square, the theatre will easily attract passersby.  Image Courtesy © Scagliola Brakkee, Despite the strict noise regulations, the architects were able to locate the building in the heart of the city. Zuidplein Theatre forms part of Hart van Zuid, a region-wide public-private partnership development focused around the Zuidplein and the Ahoy events complex. In cooperation with city of Rotterdam, Ballast Nedam and Heijmans are constructing projects here such as the Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre, Zwemcentrum Rotterdam (swimming pool), an extension of the Zuidplein shopping centre, a new bus station, hotel, housing and hospitality venues. The outdoor (public) spaces will also be completely redesigned. Following on from Zwemcentrum Rotterdam, Zuidplein Theatre is the second project completed in Hart van Zuid. Community role Zuidplein Theatre replaces the adjacent former theatre which was built in 1953. When the new theatre is operational, the old building will be demolished in a circular way. This central location in the centre of Hart van Zuid, beside the bus and metro stations, easily attracts passersby to take a peek inside, making art and culture accessible to a wider audience.  Image Courtesy © Scagliola Brakkee, Gooilandsingel, with its elevated metro line, will be transformed into a 750-m-long traffic-calmed boulevard.  Image Courtesy © Scagliola Brakkee, Façade detail. The library welcomes everyone from the community, offering a wide range of activities from languages to digital skills. Locals can meet here, learn, study, share experiences and hold discussions. Young people are especially welcome. The theatre’s diverse programming often reflects what’s happening in the community, city and region. Together with the café/restaurant, which is open every day, the complex plays an important role in the social fabric of Rotterdam-Zuid. Aluminium voile Zuidplein Theatre has a clear, compact volume of approximately 12.500 m2. Due to noise considerations, the two auditoriums are positioned on the metro side, furthest away from the residential areas. Here, the building appears enclosed and intimate with a sturdy masonry facade accented by distinctive vertical niches. By contrast, a semi-transparent anodised aluminium veil drapes delicately over the entrance. The entrance area hosts the main public functions such as the library reading tables and the café/restaurant. By day, the semi-open facade creates a beautiful play of light inside, and by night, the facade illuminates from within to highlight the inviting entrance.  Image Courtesy © Scagliola Brakkee, By day, the semi-open facade creates a beautiful play of light inside, and by night, the facade illuminates from within to highlight the inviting entrance.  Image Courtesy © Scagliola Brakkee, A high lobby forms the heart of the building. The high lobby forms the heart of the building. Every function is directly or indirectly connected with this space, where there is always something for people to do and discover. As a ‘living room’ for Rotterdam-Zuid, the lobby has an extra stage that hosts popular activities such as children’s performances and other community-focused initiatives, bands and DJs and exhibitions. Designed by De Zwarte Hond in collaboration with BURO M2R, the interior fits seamlessly with the architecture. The transparency and curved form of the aluminium voile are reflected in various interior elements. The flexible and mobile bespoke furniture designed by BURO M2R enables spaces to be configured in different ways. Steel furniture and panelling lend the interior a bold look, while, at the same time, red upholstery and floors add the distinctive warmth of a theatre.  Image Courtesy © Scagliola Brakkee, Despite the enclosed theatre spaces, the building retains its sense of openness.  Image Courtesy © Scagliola Brakkee, Next to the lobby is a space that will feature an extra stage for popular activities such as children’s performances and other community-focused initiatives, bands and DJs and exhibitions. Innovative theatre hall The 600-seat main auditorium has two distinctive features. The Rotterdam-based architecture practice Studio RAP designed an acoustic wall that seemingly embraces the audience and performing artists in one fluid gesture. The design is crafted from 6,000 different triangular aluminium composite panels – an unexpected choice of material for a theatre. Algorithms calculated the positioning of the triangular panels to create excellent acoustics in the theatre without the need for soundproofing materials. What’s also unique is how the auditorium adapts to standing concerts. Conventionally, a sliding tribune – which often has less comfortable seating – would be removed to make space for a standing event. At Zuidplein Theatre, the stage – whose surface area exceeds the hall – can easily be converted into a multipurpose space that fits a maximum of 1,000 standing or dancing visitors. This means more comfortable fixed seating can be installed in the auditorium. The ground floor and balcony can be separated from the space using a moveable wall.  Image Courtesy © Scagliola Brakkee, The main auditorium seats 600.  Image Courtesy © Scagliola Brakkee, The main auditorium’s acoustic wall is crafted from 6,000 different triangular aluminium composite panels.  Image Courtesy © Scagliola Brakkee, A flight of stairs connects the cloakroom to the lobby.  Image Courtesy © De Zwarte Hond  Image Courtesy © De Zwarte Hond  Image Courtesy © De Zwarte Hond
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Tags: Rotterdam, The Netherlands Category: Theater |
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