The former garden of the Dekenij is already a pleasant green place to stay in the city. With this function and especially with our way of designing it, we hope to add an extra dimension to this place. Not only residents and visitors to Bree, but also theatre-goers, will be able to find rest and inspiration here and experience the city in a different way.
The new theatre centre will be designed completely underground. Even more than a building, a contemporary, urban green space is being built. The site will assume a renewed, more meaningful role within the network of urban open spaces in the centre of Bree. The loading and unloading area is provided close to the access road where the impact on the residential character of the site can be kept to a minimum.
At ground level, only a canopy is placed under which the public lift and the theatre lift are located. This volume enters into a spatial dialogue with the Dekenij, which through the canopy forms a framed view for waiting guests and the public in the recreation area.
The materialisation is sober, the landscaping simple to support the character of a multifunctional public space. Pavements guarantee cohesion between sub-areas and connect with the park. Too strict a separation between walkways and park zone is avoided, and a sense of open diversity is encouraged. The retaining walls between which the sunken theatre square descends into the theatre hall provide a spatial accent. They reproduce the graphic of the existing garden walls, acting as a contemporary spatial echo and forming a link between past and present.
In the evening and at night, the patios function as landmarks that spread a very specific, almost mystical glow over the site. The character of the park thus transforms completely over time.
client
City of Bree
location
Bree, Belgium
period
2014
procedure
competition
team
Lieven Achtergael, Marteen de Pestel, Vincent De Keyser, Hendrik Roels
i.c.w.
Hippo Architecten (design studio), ESA (structural and technical engineering), PS (acoustical engineering), Thijco (safety coordination and EPB) , TTAS (theatrebuilding specialists)