Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur

Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur 

Philippe Samyn and Partners

Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
© François BRIX, Schmitt-GlobalView

LEAD ARCHITECT
Philippe Samyn

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Agora

TECHNICAL TEAM
Giuseppe Cardillo

LIGHTING CONSUTLANT
Ducks Scéno

ENGINEERING & CONSULTING
François Mairesse

STRUCTURAL CONSULTANTS
Mc-carré

SERVICES ENGINEERING
Six Consulting & Engineering, Dts & Co

ACOUSTIC ENGINEERING
Altia Acoustique

PHOTOGRAPHS
François Brix, Schmitt-globalview

LEAD TEAM
Ghislain André

AREA
8560 M²

YEAR
2019

LOCATION
Namur, Belgium

CATEGORY
Cultural Architecture, Cultural Center

Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
© François BRIX, Schmitt-GlobalView

THE BUILDING

This cultural center sits in the center of Namur, on the north bank of the Sambre River, facing the historic center of the town known as "Le Grognon".

Designed by Victor Bourgeois and built at the start of the 1960s, the building required renovation and extension to meet the current requirements of local people and to accommodate the redevelopment of the rue des Bouchers and the banks of the Sambre River.

Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
© François BRIX, Schmitt-GlobalView
Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
© François BRIX, Schmitt-GlobalView

The building used to consist of a 400-seater theatre at one end of a rectangular box-shaped space on four levels with a south-facing curtain wall (looking over the Sambre River) built up against a curved rectangular box-shaped space on five levels, known as the "croissant", which has an east-facing curtain wall and a south-facing end wall which has no openings.

The project shall preserve the existing construction (with the exception of the small buildings annexed to the backstage area and at the site's northwest corner).

Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
© François BRIX, Schmitt-GlobalView
Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
© François BRIX, Schmitt-GlobalView

One intermediate mezzanine was added into the foyer of the 450-seater main theatre, as well as an additional level on top of the "croissant" (level 4), with extensions to accommodate the functionality required.

These additions shall include, to the east of the building in front of the "croissant", the "prow cylinder" comprising the reception porch, and significant extensions to the northeast of the building.

Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
© François BRIX, Schmitt-GlobalView
Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
© François BRIX, Schmitt-GlobalView

NATURAL VENTILATION AND ACOUSTICS

Although the reliance on natural ventilation and lighting is perfectly possible in a favorable urban environment, the environmental conditions within towns (odors, noise, dust, dirt on floors and walls, overheating, shading) have gradually and very visibly deteriorated.

Buildings have increasingly been constructed so to protect them from this hostile environment, becoming "boxes" sealed off from these physical attacks and, as a result, closed off from their surroundings.

Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
© François BRIX, Schmitt-GlobalView
Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
© François BRIX, Schmitt-GlobalView

The center of Namur, which is well-ventilated due to its topography and rivers, is fortunate in that it does not suffer from these disadvantages.

It is thus possible to return to more sensible practices and to open up the building to its environment.

Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
© François BRIX, Schmitt-GlobalView
Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
© François BRIX, Schmitt-GlobalView

Since they are sheltered from sources of noise, the main 450-seater theatre roof lights, necessary for both smoke exhaust and natural daylight, can also be used for natural ventilation, along with opening windows.

NATURAL LIGHTING

Louvres fitted vertically on east, and horizontal blinds on other orientations, are used to adjust the degree of natural illumination through the facades, and to provide shading. Light wells shall provide natural illumination for the stages in the three theatres.

Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
© François BRIX, Schmitt-GlobalView
Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
© François BRIX, Schmitt-GlobalView

PERFORMANCE LEVELS

Some of the key considerations in this study have been: respect for the cultural heritage, the integration of existing artworks, fire safety, problem-free disabled access (Access-i certification), and respect for the environment (BREEAM certification in progress).


Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
© François BRIX, Schmitt-GlobalView
Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
© François BRIX, Schmitt-GlobalView
Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
© François BRIX, Schmitt-GlobalView


Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
Plan - 1st Floor
Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
Plan - 2nd Floor
Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
Plan - 3rd Floor
Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
Plan - 4th Floor
Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
Plan - 5th Floor
Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
Plan - 6th Floor
Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
Plan - 7th Floor
Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
Plan - 8th Floor


Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
Section
Maison de la Culture de la Province de Namur
Section