Herault Arnod Architects

Modern Music Centre

Modern Music Centre
 © André Morin

Modern Music Centre

Herault Arnod Architects

TYPE
Cultural › Hall/Theater

STATUS
Built

SIZE
25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft

PHOTOS
André Morin (15)

YEAR
2013

LOCATION
Évreux, France

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Hérault Arnod Architectes, lead architects,Camille Bérar, project managerInex, fluids,Batiserf,structure,Michel Forgue, economist,Ducks Scéno, stage design,Lasa, acoustics

Modern Music Centre
© André Morin

This Contemporary Music Centre (SMAC) is a musical complex consisting of two auditoriums of very different kinds and recording studios, linked by a public space called the deck, running from one side of the building to the other.

It is designed on the principle that, instead of being mere consumers of entertainment, people can construct their own evening by moving from one place to the other.

Modern Music Centre
© André Morin
Modern Music Centre
© André Morin

The site is a corner of the Bel Ebat fairground, on the edge of the historic town centre of Evreux.

The difficulty lies in the size relation between the new building, rather small and non-central, and the fairground, a huge empty esplanade.

One of the challenges of the architecture is to create a synergy with the fairground activities – fetes, flea markets, circuses, etc.

Modern Music Centre
© André Morin
Modern Music Centre
© André Morin
Modern Music Centre
© André Morin

To resist and exist in relation to the vast expanse of the fairground, the structure is dense, sculptural and autonomous.

The main concert hall is on the first floor and sticks out, overhanging the entrance on the northern side.

For acoustic reasons, the concert rooms and recording studios are separate concrete boxes.

Modern Music Centre
© André Morin
Modern Music Centre
© André Morin

The whole structure is enveloped in a light metal skin, a double wall or over-roof that acts as an additional acoustic feature.

From the outside, the volume is opaque, composed of triangular facets, some of them made of polished stainless steel that reflects the surrounding trees.

Modern Music Centre
© André Morin
Modern Music Centre
© André Morin

It is imbued with a dual internal motion, the movement of the deck that crosses it and the movement of the roof which rises gradually to envelop the main auditorium.

The deck operates like an immense interior/exterior hall stretching from the street to the esplanade.

Modern Music Centre
© André Morin
Modern Music Centre
 © André Morin

This course distributes and shows the different entities: main auditorium hall, local radio station studio, recording studios and the club, live-music café with its glass double façade fan folded for acoustic reasons.

The deck opens southwards to become a wide porch, an urban theatre that acts both as a terrace for the club, and as a stage for outdoor concerts or shows.

Modern Music Centre
 © André Morin


Modern Music Centre
Modern Music Centre
Modern Music Centre


Modern Music Centre
Modern Music Centre

Herault Arnod Architects
T +33 1 48078140
Herault Arnod Architects
1 Rue Meissonnier, 93500 Pantin, France