Strasbourg

The project to relocate the Club de la Laiterie (SMAC de la Ville de Strasbourg) to the Hall des Chars (located 100 meters further down the same street and occupied by the theater collective “l'Espace K”) embodies the new transdisciplinary dimension that animates this essential neighborhood of Strasbourg's nightlife.

This ambitious cohabitation is characterized by the desire to bring together in the same space two public buildings that differ in terms of programming, and therefore morphology, but share a common goal: to develop creativity and promote artistic expression through cultural and regional initiatives.

The arrival of the Club in the Hall des Chars, and the extension of the latter with a view to redesigning the Espace K premises, has led to a new architectural style in keeping with the era of cultural change.

On Rue du Ban de la Roche, a new electric and urban façade will delight passers-by and mark the entrance to the Club, which has moved a few street numbers down. We propose a “double façade”: the first, existing façade will run along the sidewalk and will be pierced by a series of large luminous circles revealing the second façade, located three meters back. This offset creates a luminescent, green forecourt protected from the street, which welcomes the public and invites them to enter the premises. It will establish a visual dialogue with the street while giving it a strong identity and magnifying its nocturnal buzz, allowing the Club to emerge from the shadow of the Laiterie where it was previously located.

On the courtyard side, on Rue du Hohwald, Espace K initially occupied the entire Hall des Chars. The restructuring of the latter provided an opportunity to optimize and enhance it. Its entrance remains on the courtyard side, but the volume of the extension housing its new auditorium will transform it into a minimalist white monolith framing views of the vegetation.

The new, contrasting worlds of the Club and the K space create a surprise and ensure a dynamic new experience for regular visitors. Their atmospheres outline high-quality spaces that open up new attitudes and practices, and a use of space that is enjoyable for all generations of visitors. The programming of the two structures will allow events to be held simultaneously, day or night, without causing noise pollution for local residents.