3XN: cultural center plassen
a new cultural center designed to provide useful dynamic spaces within and ontop of the building, making the envelope just as important to the program as the interior.
‘cultural center plassen’ by 3XN, molde, norway image © adam mork all images courtesy of 3XN
danish firm 3XN has just completed the ‘cultural center plassen’ for the community of molde in norway. the heart of the building is a bright red ‘box within a box’ which houses the auditorium. the double skin offers a perfect sound barrier while its simple rectangular shape allows the design to focus on internal acoustics. a considerable height difference in the site informed access on two separate levels, in the end creating an irregularly-shaped curtain wall envelope with a granite skin that peels and cuts away from corners and walls to invite sunlight and reveal parts of the colorful program inside.
a large staircase defines the facade images © adam mork
the form, apart from enclosing the new library, cafe, theater, stages and gallery, becomes equally habitable inside and out, with large staircases taking visitors to the roof where they may re-enter the center to a different function. this flexibility makes the exterior just as usable as the interior, accommodating larger community events such as the annual jazz festival, when the stairs may be used as an outdoor theater. the circulation flows seamlessly through the volume as a trip to ‘plassen’ will usually involve the visitor wandering in, out, over and through the metal frame structure.
architect jan ammundsen explains the underlying concept: ‘plassen is a compact and chaste construction, but by giving the shape a number of breaches, we have created a diversity in its expression, which means that it is flexible and roomy, without seeming very big.’
image © adam mork
large staircase doubles as an outdoor stage image © adam mork
staircase acts as circulation element as well as an extra place for sitting images © adam mork
rooftop cafe area image © adam mork
suitable for large community events image © adam mork
car entrance image © adam mork
street entrance image © adam mork
library image © adam mork
large open library space image © adam mork
entrance lobby with cafe and theater image © adam mork
auditorium image © adam mork
auditorium seating image © adam mork
site plan
site plan
floor plan / level 0
floor plan / level 1
section
section
elevation
elevation
elevation
elevation
circulation and spatial diagrams
model
model
model
project info:
architect: 3XN project type: cultural center functions: theatre, concert hall, café, gallery, library client: molde kulturbyg ab construction: 2009 – 2012 official opening: 14th of july, 2012 size: 5,800 sqm cost: 187 million norwegian kroner / / 25 million euros engineer: norconsult as
