off architecture: cultural center in cugnaux, france

cultural center in cugnaux, france by off architecture

french off architecture firm won the competition to design the cultural center in cugnaux, france.

they developed a high and compact building that can be seen throughout the city. a quality green landscaped park offers undulating hills to shelter actual or potential programs such as the parking or any garage sale, outside lounge, picnic, whilst, the vegetal canopy helps to break and adapt the scale of the building to its surroundings – where the thin and long stems trees frame its height.

the main entrance of the building is served by a public square. it establishes a strong link between the building and the city and naturally leads the public to the lobby. located on the ground floor, the spacious glazed hall is an extension of the courtyard allowing a smooth flow of circulations. the square focuses francazal avenue, which is the main road from the downtown, and extends until the limits of the car park to facilitate the flow of motorized users.

the lobby

the general organisation of the project consists of simple stacked volumes. the building is designed as a very compact object punctuated to its center by a patio that spans three levels, bringing light and comfort. all the vertical circulations of the building are organized in a central core accessible from the main lobby. four lifts serve the different levels. two are dedicated to the public whereas the others secure an access to the staff. thus, the flows of people are clearly identified and facilitate professional circulations between different poles: the showroom, the main venue/amphitheater, the municipal archives, the school of art education, the library, the cultural services and the technical rooms. the overall distribution of the programs allows each of the spaces to operate according to its own timetable and use.

exhibition gallery

the main amphitheatre

the main amphitheatre, directly accessible from the lobby, accommodates from 400 seats to 1000 standing people. its arrangement offers the public the best conditions of visibility and listening. the use of mobile benches allows flexibility of events. the room can also be opened on the outer north-east facade for concerts and festival events.

at night

the facade is the main feature of the whole concept. it is both a protective mesh and a remarkable external sign: it is a woven wooden skin that plays with different densities an scales for an optimal filtering effect based on thermal, visual and ambient qualities for each program.

the amphitheatre opens out from north-east facade