Thursday 5 October 2017

I Do Like Unusual Buildings,

and this one is pretty unusual,


it is a music complex near Paris, featuring an egg-shaped auditorium and a wall of solar panels that move to follow the path of the sun, the Japanese architect's Paris-based office won an international competition held in 2013 to design La Seine Musicalea, a musical facility comprising a large multipurpose venue and a smaller auditorium, it was designed by PritzkerPrize-winning architect Shigeru Ban, Shigeru Ban Architects who collaborated with local architect Jean de Gastines on the the complex, which is located on the Ile Seguin between the Boulogne-Billancourt and Sèvres neighbourhoods in the French capital's western suburbs,

 the heart of the building is the Grand Seine multi-purpose hall, a 6,000-seat venue for events including concerts, musicals and ballets, there is also a smaller performance space for 1,150 people, which is home to the Insula Orchestra, and intended as a venue for classical concerts not requiring amplification, the ovoid structure's latticed laminated-timber frame is sheathed in glazing and sheltered from direct sunlight by a sail-like surface covered with photovoltaic cells, the triangular sail is mounted on rails that allow it to follow the path of the sun, therefore increasing its efficiency and ensuring the lobby behind is shaded throughout the day,

 "The form of the solar panel is inspired by a sail, so we can compare La Seine Musicale to a sailing ship," said the firm in a statement. "This environmentally friendly 'ship' will ultimately make a new symbol for the west gate of Paris." 

 the interior of the auditorium is designed to create a warm and intimate atmosphere, with seating encircling a central stage area, acoustic panels made from wood and paper tubes are suspended from the ceiling to enhance the concert experience,

 for most of the 20th century, the La Seine Musicale site was occupied by a manufacturing plant operated by car brand Renault, when Renault ceased activity at the facility in 1992, the buildings were left unused, before eventually being demolished in 2005,

the masterplan has since undergone several revisions, as ownership has changed over the years, the opening of La Seine Musicale marks the first completed cultural venue on the island, La Seine Musicale occupies around a third of the island at its western tip, in keeping with Nouvel's original plan for Ile Seguin, a concrete wall wraps around the building's perimeter, evoking the industrial aesthetic of the former factory,


the photography is by Didier Boy de la Tour, as I said, what an unusual building.


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