Vendsyssel Theatre and Experience Centre, Hjørring Building, Denmark Cultural Architecture
Vendsyssel Theatre and Experience Centre in Hjørring
New Building in Jutland, Denmark design by schmidt hammer lassen architects (shl)
27 Mar 2017 + 15 Nov 2013
Vendsyssel Theatre and Experience Centre Building
Design: schmidt hammer lassen architects
The new Vendsyssel Theatre opens to a sell-out season in Hjørring, Denmark
A successful premiere marked the beginning of a sold out season at Denmark’s first newly built theatre in over a century outside of the Danish capital Copenhagen. The 4,200 m2 theatre and culture building is designed as a dynamic and multifunctional complex that includes a Music hall, Black Box, Rehearsal hall and a 430 seat flexible hall which includes an”in-the-round” theatre. In addition, the building houses offices and spacious lobby area with café and backstage area with workshop and dressing rooms. With its central location in the heart of Hjørring, the theatre will become a dynamo for the entire region’s cultural life.
The building appears as a composition of cubic blocks. The warm rusty red corten steel facades correspond with its surroundings during the day, whilst the LED backed frosted glass facades illuminate in various colors during the evening; thus, creating an aesthetic link between the town, the front plaza and the theatre building.
“It is our ambition that the building will manifest itself as a new living organism in the cityscape,” says Founding partner John Foldbjerg Lassen. “It is a building which stands by its cultural significance and which dares to be different without taking focus away from the town’s existing qualities.”
Architectural, functional and experiential emphasis has been placed on five main themes: Anchoring in the town, transparency, functionality, flexibility and materiality. The result is a striking building, which relates pragmatically to its function and which invites both active use and quiet breaks.
The approach to the building’s design has been a pragmatic view of culture as an opportunity and experience for all. Therefore, space has been created for both scheduled and ad hoc events outside at the plaza, inside the foyer and on the grand staircase where visitors can choose to be spectators or even participate in the activities.
Inside, an open plan solution ensures visual and physical connections across the building. The boundaries between publicly accessible areas and the more traditional theatre functions are blurred.
“We’ve designed emphasis on the interaction between artists and spectators. Inside, all the major halls can be opened to the foyer, the use of glass and windows in different rooms creates visual connections and the performers can get a glimpse of the public from their lounge on the top level.”
Photography: Adam Mørk
Vendsyssel Theatre and Experience Centre, Hjørring Competition
schmidt hammer lassen architects wins competition for Vendsyssel Theatre and Experience Centre
Location: Hjørring, north Jutland, Denmark
image from architects
As part of a team, schmidt hammer lassen architects has won the competition to design Vendsyssel Theatre and Experience Centre in Hjørring, Denmark. With this 4,200 square metre building, Hjørring gains a vibrant cultural hub in which to feature the city’s various cultural activities. The winning design was submitted by a team including schmidt hammer lassen architects, Arkitektfirmaet Finn Østergaard, Brix & Kamp, ALECTIA, Gade & Mortensen Akustik, AIX Arkitekter, Filippa Berglund scenography, and LIW Planning.
image from architects
The architectural ambition for the new Theatre and Experience Centre has been to create a building which blends into the surrounding environment while standing out as a new, vibrant organism in the city.
image from architects
”We have designed a project where the architectural and functional concept has five main themes: integration in the city, openness, functionality, flexibility and materiality,” explained John Foldbjerg Lassen, Founding Partner at schmidt hammer lassen architects. “We have designed a significant building which relates to its function in a pragmatic way. It invites both active use and quiet breaks. It is a building which radiates its cultural meaning – it dares to be different, without stealing the focus from the existing qualities in the city.”
image from architects
The Theatre and Experience Centre consists of a complex of buildings – a city within the city. Its characteristic corten steel façade, with its warm rusty red colours, corresponds well with the area’s existing plaster and brick façades; thereby creating an aesthetic whole between the city, the front plaza and the theatre building.
image from architects
A vibrant building with a glimpse of the backstage Inside, an open plan solution ensures visual and physical connections across the building. The boundaries between publicly accessible areas and the more traditional theatre functions are blurred.
image from architects
In the building layout special attention has been paid to making sure that all functions can operate optimally. At the same time many areas can be joined and the circulation areas can be used as backstage facilities.
image from architects
”The open plan ensures a high level of flexibility in the building, and only your imagination sets the limit for where and how the theatre productions can take place,” said Rasmus Kierkegaard, Associate Partner at schmidt hammer lassen architects. “Actors and staff are visible to the visitors in the building, and the building will appear vibrant even with only a few persons present.”
Completion of Vendsyssel Theatre and Experience Centre is expected in 2016.
schmidt hammer lassen architects has many years of experience with designing cultural buildings. The studio is currently finishing the new concert and congress centre, Malmö Live, in Malmö, Sweden. This building will be finished during summer 2015. In Shanghai, China, the studio is working on a 15,000 square metre performing arts centre in the Xuhui area. In spring 2013 schmidt hammer lassen architects won the competition to design the New Cultural Centre and Library in Karlshamn, Sweden.
image from architects
Vendsyssel Theatre and Experience Centre in Hjørring – Building Information
Architect team: schmidt hammer lassen architects, Arkitektfirmaet Finn Østergaard A/S
Client: Municipality of Hjørring, Realdania
Area: 4,200m²
Construction sum: €16.5 million excl. VAT
Competition: 2013, 1st prize in restricted competition
Full-service consultant: schmidt hammer lassen architects
Engineer: Brix & Kamp A/S, ALECTIA A/S
Landscape architect: LIW Planning Aps
Other consultants:
– Gade & Mortensen Akustik A/S
– AIX Arkitekter AB
– Filippa Berglund, scenograf, arkitekt maa
Vendsyssel Theatre and Experience Centre in Hjørring Building images / information from schmidt hammer lassen architects
Vendsyssel Theatre and Experience Centre design : schmidt hammer lassen
Location: Hjørring, Denmark
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