Rehabilitation and Extension of the Belfry of Dives-sur-mer Cultural Center / ACAU Architectes
Textual content material description supplied by the architects. Witness of a century of metallurgical commerce in Dives, the belfry, inbuilt 1892, is a advantageous occasion of the dominant architectural mannequin of the highest of the nineteenth century – it has been registered since October 4, 2007, as a Historic Monument. Subsequently, the question is strategies to boost the ground functionality required for this method with out altering this distinctive heritage.
The Belfry – Intercommunal Music Faculty. As a consideration of the historic previous and the memory of the developing and as an effort to glamorize the business heritage of Calvados, the restoration, and reconstruction of the facades of the Belfry developing was the subject of historic evaluation.
Thus, the restoration of plasters and bricks, the remedy of flint joints “with a fork”, the restoration of all whitewash, or the restoration of clocks are as many elements collaborating in respectfully requalifying the developing. In addition to, the half with a straightforward historic ground flooring standing in opposition to the Belfry developing has been deconstructed after which rebuilt whereas preserving all of the small print of the friezes and railings of yesteryear. Solely a giant opening, with an assertive modernity, addresses the model new south sq. and marks the doorway of most of the people. The ground beneath the model new slab cast in a row timber plank is seen from all parts of the underside flooring. It brings the developing right into a model new trendy interval.
The extension – Nationwide puppetry theatre and Workshop. The trendy brick extension with sharp joints on three sides affords an assertive volumetry hugging all of the footprint of the obtainable plot. A gap on the north façade signifies the doorway of the artists whereas a brick lattice subtly reveals the train of the place, notably on evening time reveals.
Like a monolith, the developing is carved primarily based on this method whereas exhibiting all of the facades of the restored belfry throughout the background. The softness and uniformity of the bricks are a technique to deal with the belfry developing, regarding its manyfold moldings and affirmed materiality.
The extension takes advantage of the slope with a slight encasement to produce a most peak all through the auditorium (130 seats) whereas offering views on the current developing from the street. The fourth façade, positioned between the two buildings, the historic and the model new, fades away by its anodized materiality as a mark of respect for the heritage, as a reflection of the placement’s historic previous.
A “straightforward” glazed corridor hyperlinks the historic half to the model new one, offering public entry from the doorway hall to the theater. A passage between historic previous (view of the belfry façade) and modernity of the model new gear (immaterial façade). Like a giant setting, the puppet-making workshop opens generously to the East so that adults and kids can uncover the art work of puppetry sooner than their staging.
Previous the tactic of rehabilitating the current developing partaking an HQE (Extreme Environmental Prime quality) ambition, all the bio-based wood ending provides all through the gear (joinery, partitions, furnishings) present the enterprise an ecological sensitivity and a beautiful ambiance.