Deinze New Cultural Center

Based on a decision that the new Cultural Centre is proposed on the river embankment location, we developed the Centre as a hybrid between a building, a park and a public plaza. Our proposal disintegrates a building volume of the Centre into four objects – four pavilions positioned in the extension of the museum park along the river. The park literally continues through the Cultural Centre, on its roof. The park surface in the area of the Cultural Centre is simply lifted up, creating a gentle hill with an elevated plaza – e Levelde on the top and a large interior space, the grand foyer underneath. Along the river, the park slopes down and connects to the river terrace. The park ends up with an entry plaza at the bridge site: an entrance both to the town centre as to the Cultural Centre. The four pavilions penetrate the gentle hill and with their volume and in-between distances define both the space of the esplanade and the interior of the grand foyer of the Cultural Centre underneath.  Their pebble-like shape enables a smooth flow of people through the Center and a natural continuation of park paths on the esplanade level.

The four pavilions appear as sculptured objects – follies in the park. Their volumes are all cladded in continuous wooden horizontal stripes. From their roof, a lush vertical garden of ivies and vines grow. As such, the pavilions rising form a grassed and paved esplanade surface create an almost uncanny, strong and recognizable image of the entrance to the town centre.  The blue rectangular theatre fly tower as the highest point in the ensemble becomes an eye catcher in the urban silhouette, setting up relations with industrial towers in the urban scape of Deinze.

The esplanade, spread among the pavilions becomes an elevated public plaza in Deinze. The views down along the river, to the church, to grain towers and to the museum on the park side are unveiled between the pavilions. The esplanade is a destination itself: a summer cultural event can be held there, a reception after performance in the theatre or an outdoor dinner overviewing the river. The theatre pavilion, the office and restaurant pavilion are directly accessed from the esplanade and then via internal vertical circulation connected to the grand foyer. Only a pavilion which houses three multipurpose halls is completely enclosed on the esplanade level.

The grand foyer is a 4m high space which extends from the river terrace up to the entrance plaza, meandering between the pavilions. Due to its size, natural light penetrates at the perimeters of the pavilion, soft, and warm material finishes and a large opening to the river, the grand foyer becomes an attractive and welcoming place.  There are three areas in the grand foyer with a temporary character and athmosphere: an exhibition area close to the main entrance, a venue area in front of the multipurpose halls pavilion and a lounge area, overviewing the river in front of the restaurant/bar pavilion.  The grand foyer flows to the staircase lobby of the auditorium, extends to the multipurpose halls and via gentle staircase through the bar connects to the restaurant on the esplanade level.

The grand foyer connects to the river terrace, to an extension of the promenade down on the river level. A floating platform in the water concludes the space of the grand foyer and provides a place for sunbathing during a daytime or concert in the evening. The four pavilion houses four programmatic entities of the Cultural Centre: the offices and service pavilion along the road, the restaurant pavilion on the entry plaza site, the multipurpose hall on the park side along the river and the theatre pavilion with the auditorium as the largest volume, positioned in the middle. The pavilions, partially glazed, partially full wall perimeter is cladded in wooden stripe lattice which acts as a shading. It opens up at the entrances. In the evenings, a light from inside penetrates through the stripes. The multipurpose halls pavilion house three halls which can connect into two or even into one large. The halls can open up so that an event can extend into the space of the grand foyer. Apart from the foyer, they can be access through a lobby linked to the river terrace. Similar to the restaurant pavilion, the multipurpose halls can operate also in case of closure of the grand foyer.

The largest pavilion of the ensemble contains the theatre with an auditorium, a stage with side stages, wardrobes and storages. The auditorium has four entrances, two directly form the grand foyer at the lower side and two via large staircase to the top side of the auditorium. Once inside of the auditorium, a very warm and almost cosy atmosphere welcomes spectators. A smooth lights penetrates through a willow tree, acoustic cladding of walls and ceiling which refers to a natural surroundings of Deinze  (please find a description). A dark red velvet like seats and back wall add to a ceremonial atmosphere of an almost traditional theatre.

The ensamble of the four pavilions, the esplanade, the grand foyer extending to the river terrace creates a new meeting point of Deinze. A relaxed and anti monumental athmosphere of the Cultural Centre becomes a stimulants for performers, musicians and actors.

It is always a good experience for them too to perform in Deinze!

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