Theater in Montreuil / Dominique Coulon et associés

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Text description provided by the architects. The access hall organizes the public flow.

-          Reception, information desk and access are located below the auditorium.

This space aims to be boosted by the public use:

-          The first one is open, it features views of the future Gernica square. One can perceive a continuous path which is symbolized by the staircase that leads toward the bar.

-          The second one is vertical, the monumental staircase behind me.

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The courtyard brings daylight to the interior spaces and, through triangulation with other glazing panels, balances the spatial configuration.The architect seeked the continuity of the external spaces toward the inner spaces by the use of Portuguese paving on the ground level. This red foyer is the starting point of a very expressive pathway we are about to discover.

By climbing the monumental stairs one perceives a color shift. It’s related to the imposing character of the suspended volumes over the small stage designed for short performances. We gradually change the atmosphere while climbing the stairs. The main access to the room is through this entry.

The walls and paving show a color gradient; the volumes are detached to enhance the perspective. The current photography exhibition is presented by the School of Visual Arts of Vevey.

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Reaching the bar.
Its form allows a particularly dynamic way of development. The suspended tables, coated with gold sheets, react statically to the bar’s volume.

Getting inside the room.
This room closely connects the spectators with both the stage and the artists.The grid over the stage pends from a point two times higher than the window we can see. Still on the path of this project, the red-to-black gradient is discrete, it leads the eye toward the stage.

The concrete walls give the room a very contemporary atmosphere. Their oblique “folds” ensure an excellent acoustic and, by being attached to the technical footbridges, provide a sense of security.

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Going down until we reach the stage.

We are in front of the orchestra pit which is currently occupied by 3 rows of seats.

(Path toward the artists’ foyer)

We are in the private area for the artists.

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The ceiling, enlivened by a set of colored lights, defines the foyer and provides an austere atmosphere for the artists to prepare to enter the stage.

Here is a dressing-room. Confortable and simple, it offers a place for the user to prepare.

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This place is treated with noble materials as solid wood and golden sheet cladding.

(Passing in front of the staircase) This staircase leads to the administrative areas, to the other dressing-rooms, to the technical facilities, and also to the artist’s studios we are about to find. Its dynamic nature features some slits that create different perspectives.

(Reaching beneath the vault) The access to the studios is through this path whose main singularity is this vault. The color and light treatment emphasizes its magnificence and provides a sense of infinity.

Artists’ studio: this room is a simple volume which features all kind of repetitions. The balcony can be easily reached and allows users to stay in this room for longer.

We will now return to the access hall – end of the visit. 

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