Panoramic aerial view of the venue
Design unit SO–IL
Project Location Masonthal, France
Completion 2021
The project size is 6,500 square meters
Photography rights Iwan Baan, David Foessel, Hart Nibbrig
Tucked away in the idyllic setting of the Nord Vosges Nature Park, the Messenthal Glass Factory, born in the 18th century, has become a vibrant cultural centre funded by the government.
Panoramic aerial view of the venue
Aerial view of the building
The glass factory now houses three separate and interrelated institutions: the Museum of Glass, which presents the site's vivid memories of glass production; the International Centre for Glass Art (CIAV), which showcases the combination of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary practice; and the Glass Canopy Hall, a multicultural space that houses art installations, concerts and other artistic events in a multi-storey space. The design unites the three institutions and establishes an image that contemporary institutions have in the dialogue with industrial heritage.
Mass schematic model
The volume of concrete placed between the original buildings
An undulating cast-in-place concrete surface connects the individual buildings together, echoing the function of glass production on site. This curved surface is both the roof, the ceiling and the walls, and it is directly connected to the ground floor of the building to form a public square. New features have also been meticulously introduced into curved up and down spaces, complementing areas such as offices, workshops, cafes and restaurants.
Flowing concrete roof
The existing architectural functions have also been redesigned and expanded: the basement floor, which was not previously opened in the factory hall, has been placed in a new entrance and a 500-seat black box theater. The theater can be adapted as needed, reconfigured as a 700-seat standing theatre, or it can be transformed into a concert hall with a capacity of 3,000 people.
Exterior of the building
Indoor space
This new public space promotes citizens' awareness of historical sites and introduces a highly flexible venue for outdoor theatre, concerts and seasonal celebrations.
Night view of the venue
model
Design drawing ▽
General floor plan
Floor plans for each floor
Section view