UNStudio’s design for a theatre in Den Bosch, the Netherlands has been selected through a competition in which the city’s residents voted on one of two finalist designs, receiving 57% of the votes. Their proposal, Theatre on the Parade, integrates the theatre’s four volumes into its surrounding environment.
Located adjacent to a public square and near St. John’s Cathedral, UNStudio sought to integrate the theatre with its surroundings. To accomplish this, the two auditoriums feature natural stone façades, while the public foyers are wrapped in glass, connecting the public square with the theatre. In addition, the larger of the two auditoriums will be partially sunken so as not to affect sightlines to the cathedral. A terrace on the third floor will offer further views of the city.
“The massing of the building is simultaneously single and multiple: the shifting displacement of the volumes suggests separation and fragmentation, while moments of intersection fuse the volumes and result in an autonomous, single object within the urban fabric,” said Ben van Berkel.
The foyer runs level to the public square, with the main stairway in its center. Featuring glass balustrades, the stairway will extend four levels.
The main auditorium will seat 950 people and is designed for enhanced acoustics. While a recessed floor helps stifle outside noise, the walls will be clad in wooden lamellas. The smaller auditorium will seat 450 and contain a flexible space that can be used for events, shows and different types of performances.
Construction on the theatre is expected to begin in 2017 and wrap up by 2020.
- Architects: UNStudio
- Design Team: Ben van Berkel, Gerard Loozekoot with Filippo Lodi, Jacques van Wijk and Crystal Tang, Alexander Kalachev, Hans Kooij, Michelle Gulickx, Nick Marks, Jingbo Yan, Meng Zhang
- Area: 10731.0 sqm
- Project Year: 2020
- Photographs: Marc Bolsius, courtesy of the Den Bosch City Council
