Location: Nieuwegein, Netherlands.

Architect: van Dongen – Koschuch.

The Kunstcluster is a new landmark in the town centre of Nieuwegein, which has undergone redevelopment in recent years. The building consists of a theatre with two auditoria, a studio theatre, three foyers, and a theatre café. The glass façade is printed to give the illusion of stage curtains and reduce light penetration. A 20-metre-high “shop window” allows passersby to see inside the theatre, while theatregoers can overlook the town centre from the foyers. The multi-storey car park next to the Kunstcluster is carbon-neutral and features a cascade stairway through a bamboo plantation. The ground floor accommodates retail, creating a living streetscape. The project was executed by the Architekten Cie, led by Frits van Dongen and Patrick Koschuch.

Photo credit: van Dongen – Koschuch.