ALA architects: kilden performing arts center

the kilden performing arts centre by ALA architects
all images courtesy ALA architects


the kilden performing arts centre in the norwegian city of kristiansand will be completed in
a year's time. kilden is the most significant cultural building project to be undertaken in norway
since the oslo opera house. designed by the helsinki-based ALA architects, kilden’s bold
and expressive architecture is clearly distinguished from other nordic cultural buildings.
the building has now reached ridge height, and work has started on the facade cladding
and the interior design of the halls. the total budget of the building project is close to 1.3
billion norwegian kroner (165 million euros).
 
kilden’s key architectural feature is the inclined, undulating wooden wall. the mounting of
the 4000 square metre free-form oak wall, implemented using cam technology, has just started
and will continue until the end of october. the oak wall will be fixed to a 100 metre-long steel
structure with a 40 metre overhang manufactured by the finnish company ruukki. the imposing
wall is made of 20 000 different pieces. the use of timber from the southern norwegian forests
is a reference to kristiansand’s history. the city became wealthy precisely due to the export of
oak to central europe, when its demand as building material for sailing ships increased in
the early 17th century. 



construction of the facade


the international architectural competition for the design of the sorlandet theatre and concert hall
in 2005 was won by ALA architects of finland. in collaboration with a local company,
sms arkitekter as, ALA is responsible for the architectural design of the project.
 
kilden will bring together various performing arts institutions in kristiansand: the kristians
and symphony orchestra, agder theatre and opera south. the acoustics of the 1200-seat concert hall
have been specifically designed for symphonic music. the theatre hall has a seating capacity of 700
and will function as the new home stage of opera south. the building also houses a stage for
experimental theatre and a multi-purpose hall.
 


construction of the facade


kilden gathers all the performing arts institutions of kristiansand under one roof. a shoebox
concert hall with a capacity of 1200 seats is built for the symphony orchestra. agder county
theatre will perform in a 700-seat theatre hall with excellent drama acoustics and extensive
stage mechanics, with a theatre tower and understage machinery. the theatre hall is adjustable
for music theatre performances, and will also house productions by the local opera company.
in addition to the main halls, kilden includes a studio stage for contemporary theatre and a flat
floor multi-purpose hall for a wide range of activities.



construction in progress


kilden produces experiences. the fundamental architectural content is the way the concert,
theatre and multi-purpose halls work together with the support spaces. the halls are arranged
in a row according to their functions, and the organisation of the service areas allows common
production equipment to serve all halls efficiently and without interference. the service areas
are located on one side of the halls, with the public foyer on the other.



model of the kilden performing arts centre


the cantilevering shapes created by the undersides of the auditoriums are clad with a continuous
curving wooden wall. this smooth form covers the public foyer and the entrance area on the pier.
the curving wall, which is made of local oak, divides everyday life from the fantasy world of
the arts and performances inside the halls. the dramatic shape rising over the foyer attracts
audiences and the public to gather under the building, signifying the richness and diversity of arts
and performances behind it, and representing the potential of the arts organisations working
together. the curving wall is manufactured from solid oak planks with the help of computer aided
modelling techniques. it is a real, tactile, physical form, not just a thin layer of texture. the wooden
shape also improves the acoustic conditions of the foyer.



model of the kilden performing arts centre


the monotonous, object-like theatre-black aluminium facades cover the three other sides
of the building, complementing and emphasising the spectacular space created by the foyer wall.
the concert hall is a dark, shoebox-type space that visually disappears towards the ceiling
and creates reverberating volume for the acoustics. the walls of the concert hall are clad with
continuous, triangularly faceted black fibre concrete elements, which create acoustically optimal
surface modulation. the audience and the performers are surrounded by light, elegant wooden
surfaces, which create a bright furniture-like element floating in the vast, dark hall. the more
delicate acoustical surface modulation around the audience and the performers is created by
shaping this wooden element. 



model of the kilden performing arts centre



rendering of the kilden performing arts centre



rendering of the kilden performing arts centre



rendering of the kilden performing arts centre



performance hall



concert hall


project info:
kilden - performing arts center for sørlandet
location: kristiansand, norway
type: competition 1st prize 2005
status: under construction
completion 2011
program: 17.000 theatre and concert hall and 10.000 parking
site: tight plot on a renewed industrial pier hinging the city center and a major recreational outdoor area.
client: TKS IKS
team: ALA - juho grönholm, antti nousjoki, janne teräsvirta, samuli woolston with niklas mahlberg,
pekka sivula, pauliina rossi, pauliina skyttä, sami mikonheimo, jani koivula, auvo lindroos,
aleksi niemeläinen, erling sommerfeldt, ingrid kokkonen, tomi henttinen
sms arkitekter as: erik sandsmark, wenche aabel, lasse stamrud, hanne alnes
collaborators: wsp multiconsult (structural engineering), arup acoustics (hall acoustics), brekke strand (room acoustics), sweco grøner, cowi (service engineering), tpc (theatre technical engineering), klaus stolt (scale model) birger grönholm (theatre expertise)