11.9.2012
The Arch, Mandal, Norway
El Centro Cultural "Buen" (Arch) se encuentra en la aldea meridional de Mandal, Noruega. El complejo tiene la forma de un manto verde que se eleva e integra al edificio con el paisaje circundante. La fachada de cristal se abre y expone el vestíbulo hasta la orilla del río permitiendo el ingreso de una gran cantidad de luz natural en su interior. El edificio se ajusta en color, escala y proporción a las características y pintorescas casas noruegas de madera construidas en la orilla del río. El Arch contiene un teatro y sala de conciertos, una biblioteca y una galería. La distribución asegura un alto grado de contacto visual entre las diferentes funciones, lo que le otorga la sensación de tener una continua y dinámica actividad.
){kind=link}
The Cultural Centre ”Buen” (The Arch) in the Southern Norwegian village of Mandal is shaped like a green blanket that elevates and integrates the building in the surrounding landscape. The glass façade opens up and exposes the lobby to the river bank allowing plenty of daylight into the building.
The building is adjusted in colour, scale and proportion to the characteristic and picturesque Norwegian wooden houses by the river’s edge.
Close Contact to Nature and Water
By making the culture house an integrated element in the landscape it contributes to an attractive new part of the town which was previously an anonymous industrial area.
The green and subtle expression is a natural extension of the idyllic landscape surrounding Mandal consisting of the river, forests and little islands. The water is present everywhere in Mandal, which is why the culture house is situated and oriented towards the water, giving the building the full benefit of the light, the water and the south facing location.
The Arch contains a theatre- and concert hall, a library and a gallery. The layout of the building ensures a high degree of visual contact between the different functions giving the house a dynamic feeling of life and activities at all times.
Masterplan creates connections
The master plan, also conceived by 3XN, focuses on making the new town area reflect the rest of Mandal on the other side of the river and ensuring that all the houses including the cultural centre will have maximal profit from the short distance to the river. The plan also comprises a pedestrian bridge, which will further connect the cultural centre with the local community. The bridge is under construction as is expected to be finished autumn 2012.