France-based Tetrarc Architects has revealed their design for the new Conservatory of Rennes in France. Intended to be the cornerstone of a new urban project, the fifty-meter long cubic volume is intersected by “cuts and curves that give it an elegant, sculptural presence.” This cultural facility will bring five programs under one roof, including spaces for musical activities, an auditorium, dance theaters, administration spaces, and an area for the Pont Supérieur Music Department.
Situated on the western side of an urban development known as Zagreb Square, the contoured building aims to respond to the surrounding site context through the articulation of four independently designed wood and glass facades. In addition, the roof, referred to as the “fifth façade,” shows how the two forms of a square and sphere intersect to form a circular garden in the center.
The auditorium, located in the center of the program is covered in a quilted canvas that serves an acoustic function. “To offer a beautiful musicality to this space, the interior design has been [a] fine acoustic study. The geometry of the panels is based on harmonic progression of diamond based pyramids," write the architects.
Architectural procession and sequence of movement is another prevalent theme in the proposal. Spaces wrap and circulate around one another while offering views of the exterior public spaces. Long corridors form the pathways that organize clusters of program.
The conservatory will establish itself as a cultural presence that integrates itself into the urban fabric of Rennes.
