Théâtre Alphonse Desjardins / Alphonse Desjardins Theatre
2017
Repentigny, Quebec, Canada- Architecture for culture, research, sport or leisure
- Building
- Performing art building
Repentigny is now considered the commercial and service center of the MRC de l'Assomption. The heart of the city is being revitalized and transformed into a modern downtown area with large pedestrian spaces, offices, shops, recreational facilities and green spaces. Repentigny offers its citizens all the services of a large city.
There is great potential for the development of cultural life, but this is limited by the capacity of existing facilities. The Espace culturel project, which will take place in the heart of the city, between Île-Lebel and the Robert-Lussier library, aims to meet this need. Imagined as a true cultural corridor, this unique concept will include a performance hall an art and creation center as well as an arboretum and public art garden.
In 2017, the multidisciplinary architectural competition for the performance hall was launched. The mission of the project was to foster the active participation of the region's citizens in a rich and diverse cultural life through:
- Attendance at performances.
- Amateur artistic practice;
- Participation in training or development workshops;
- Participation in cultural mediation activities and,
By placing the citizens at the center of the mission of the new Repentigny performance hall, the intention was to imagine a place different from other performance halls, whether they are in the region or in downtown Montreal, a place above all citizen. The new venue had to target a younger audience, a hard-to-reach audience that tends to shun traditional venues, but doesn't necessarily want to go see shows in bars.
The hall had to meet the following criteria:
- Multifunctional hall with variable geometry; presentation of shows of different configurations:
- Italian style (traditional layout) - 350 seats
- Cabaret style with tables and chairs - 275 seats
- Mixed configuration (front standing portion, rear tiered portion) - 400 seats.
- 2 198 m2
More than a broadcasting facility, the hall had to be able to fulfill these roles:
- An open citizen space, a place for exchange and sharing;
- A place of identity for the citizens of Repentigny and the region;
- An intergenerational and intercultural place;
- An animated, lively, vibrant place;
- A center of creation;
- A center of excellence in cultural mediation;
- A place of possibilities.
(From competition's documentation)
(Unofficial automated translation)
There is great potential for the development of cultural life, but this is limited by the capacity of existing facilities. The Espace culturel project, which will take place in the heart of the city, between Île-Lebel and the Robert-Lussier library, aims to meet this need. Imagined as a true cultural corridor, this unique concept will include a performance hall an art and creation center as well as an arboretum and public art garden.
In 2017, the multidisciplinary architectural competition for the performance hall was launched. The mission of the project was to foster the active participation of the region's citizens in a rich and diverse cultural life through:
- Attendance at performances.
- Amateur artistic practice;
- Participation in training or development workshops;
- Participation in cultural mediation activities and,
By placing the citizens at the center of the mission of the new Repentigny performance hall, the intention was to imagine a place different from other performance halls, whether they are in the region or in downtown Montreal, a place above all citizen. The new venue had to target a younger audience, a hard-to-reach audience that tends to shun traditional venues, but doesn't necessarily want to go see shows in bars.
The hall had to meet the following criteria:
- Multifunctional hall with variable geometry; presentation of shows of different configurations:
- Italian style (traditional layout) - 350 seats
- Cabaret style with tables and chairs - 275 seats
- Mixed configuration (front standing portion, rear tiered portion) - 400 seats.
- 2 198 m2
More than a broadcasting facility, the hall had to be able to fulfill these roles:
- An open citizen space, a place for exchange and sharing;
- A place of identity for the citizens of Repentigny and the region;
- An intergenerational and intercultural place;
- An animated, lively, vibrant place;
- A center of creation;
- A center of excellence in cultural mediation;
- A place of possibilities.
(From competition's documentation)
(Unofficial automated translation)