Salle de spectacles de Saint-Hyacinthe / Saint-Hyacinthe Performance Hall
2002
Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada- Architecture for culture, research, sport or leisure
- Building
- Theatre
This competition, launched in 2002 by the City of Saint-Hyacinthe, aimed at equipping the city with a new cultural facility that would enable it to respect the cultural policy adopted in 1993. Through the construction of this "multicapacity, multidisciplinary 674-seat hall" (From ARQ, February 2005, No.130, p.8), Saint-Hyacinthe intended to assert its role as regional cultural capital. The new building's site (a parking lot situated in the city centre and adjacent to the Yamaska River), presented several challenges pertaining to urban integration and surrounding built heritage.
The competition's stakes were therefore to construct a performance hall whose design would integrate to both site and surrounding architecture, while assuming its role within the Québec cultural scene. As concerns the building's location and integration, participants were to choose between two proposed strategies: a "monumental" arrangement, in relationship with the river, or a more urban arrangement that would contribute to consolidating activity within the city centre. The new performance hall was to serve professional theatrical needs, while simultaneously acting as a meeting and gathering place, as well as an urban public space for the inhabitants of the region. Equipped with this new public complex, Saint-Hyacinthe would be able to fully assume its capacity as regional cultural capital.
This competition was open to all architects throughout Québec. During the second stage, seven teams were selected and invited to submit a sketch-based concept accompanied by a descriptive text presenting their ideas.
(CCC text)
The competition's stakes were therefore to construct a performance hall whose design would integrate to both site and surrounding architecture, while assuming its role within the Québec cultural scene. As concerns the building's location and integration, participants were to choose between two proposed strategies: a "monumental" arrangement, in relationship with the river, or a more urban arrangement that would contribute to consolidating activity within the city centre. The new performance hall was to serve professional theatrical needs, while simultaneously acting as a meeting and gathering place, as well as an urban public space for the inhabitants of the region. Equipped with this new public complex, Saint-Hyacinthe would be able to fully assume its capacity as regional cultural capital.
This competition was open to all architects throughout Québec. During the second stage, seven teams were selected and invited to submit a sketch-based concept accompanied by a descriptive text presenting their ideas.
(CCC text)