Location: Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.

Architect: Dominique Coulon & associés.

The Multicultural Centre in Isbergues, France serves as a connection between the town and an inter-municipal park. The building’s volumes slide over each other and are covered in locally produced stainless steel in three different finishes, creating a kinetic effect that reflects sunlight. The building’s internal organization is clear, with an axis between the park and town offering two entrances and serving as a federating interface. The theatre walls are made of bush-hammered concrete for improved acoustics, while the media library offers a variety of reading postures using a platform with a richly varied profile. The storytelling area is formed by continuous folds that envelop children in a confined space. The building serves as an intermediary between the town and nature, with folding creating frames for a series of views over contrasting landscapes.

Photo credit: DAVID ROMERO-UZEDA.