Location: Helmond, Netherlands.

Architect: cepezed.

The ‘t Speelhuis theatre in Helmond was destroyed by fire in 2011, and the town council decided to use the disused Our Lady of the Assumption church as a temporary replacement. The church is a monument and remains the property of the Den Bosch diocese, so any interventions had to be reversible and cause minimal damage. The theatre had to be operational quickly, and due to its location in a residential area, the main entrance could not be used. Cepezed suggested situating most of the supporting programme components in new, compact, and contrasting extensions directly adjacent to the church, so the whole theatre could function autonomously. The physical appearance of the original building was preserved as much as possible, and all additions were inserted as loose, removable objects. The theatre is climatized according to the principle of Bauer Optimalization, which provides a high level of comfort due to a fully equal distribution of air. The new Theater Speelhuis has been a success with performers and audiences, and the decision has been made to make it permanent.

Photo credit: JANNES LINDERS.