Location: Nantes, France.

Architect: Atelier d’architecture Chaix & Morel et Associés.

The architectural design was guided by the search for a minimal shape that was as compatible as possible with the functions to be : stage space, space reserved for spectators and secondary zones. These elements have been integrated into a simple ring that unites the different volumes in a single body”. Along the external facade, the structure has screens with a thin profile of different heights; the tallest appears in correspondence with the main entrance. “The project reaches out towards the sky, and here it finds breath. The metal facade captures the changing image of the sky thanks to its inclination. Its thin profile, also allowing the building to be glimpsed even from afar, acts as a sort of “signal-lantern” exerting a strong attraction in a suburban urban context with a low population density”. The building envelope presents a dual scenographic system When there are no events scheduled, the crown of the building – created by what the authors of the project call “immense lanterns” – shines from the inside and seems to almost watch over the place. When there are shows, the Zenith can be illuminated externally. And the space between the concrete layer and the perforated metal mesh can also be illuminated, creating a play of light and color that transforms the building into a huge luminous screen in the middle of a nocturnal wooded landscape. A series of chimneys crown the building allowing natural ventilation of the interior spaces. The circulation of fresh air is due to the depression process triggered by the chimney which thus ensures the purification of the air circulating in the concert hall and foyer.