L'Archipel, Perpignan
L'Archipel is the largest regional theatre of the southernmost region in France, which is entirely dedicated to Mediterranean and Catalan Art. Its main theatre was designed to accommodate both larger and smaller audiences, requiring specifically designed variable acoustical blinds and reflective curtains.
Information Sheet
New Build L'Archipel, scène nationale www.theatredelarchipel.org
Location Perpignan, France.
Project Cost 32 million €.
Time Frame Winning competition entry: 2005. Design: 2006-2008. Construction: 2009-2011. Opening: October 2011.
Owner Mairie de Perpignan/Agir Promotion (Public Private Partnership).
Architect(s) Jean Nouvel, Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Paris www.jeannouvel.com • Brigitte Métra, Métra + Associés, Paris brigittemetra.com
Theatre Planner(s) Michel Cova, dUCKS Scéno, France www.ducks.fr
Seat Count Main theatre with varying seat count from 600 to 1 200, 400-seat “black box” theatre, rehearsal rooms, workshop and administration. Total area 8 200 m².
Uses National theatre center dedicated to Mediterranean and Catalan theatre.
Services Comprehensive acoustics consulting, from basic design through construction supervision and opening services. Collaboration on the variable partition and acoustical blinds' design, used to reduce the main theatre's space when the seat count is reduced to 600.
Team Eckhard Kahle, Project Manager, Yann Jurkiewicz, Kahle Acoustics.
The large hall of L'Archipel – called Le Grenat – has a variable seat-count ranging from 600 to 1 200 seats. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
The 400-seat “black box” is equipped with retractable tiers and offers a large range of possible stage configurations. Photo © Philippe Ruault
Le Grenat theatre. Photo © Philippe Ruault
This Venetian blind consisting of wavy wooden boards is a mobile acoustic partition allowing to vary the capacity of the room and its acoustics. Photo © Philippe Ruault
Detail of the Venetian blind. Photo © Philippe Ruault
The textured walls of Le Grenat theatre act as acoustic diffusers and provide uniformly distributed lateral reflections. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
General view of L'Archipel. From left to right: Le Grenat theatre, the stage tower, the rehearsal room, the changing rooms and administration offices' building, the scenery studio. The “black box” theatre is located behind. Photo © Atelier Jean Nouvel
The concrete stage tower has been inspired by the architecture of the dungeons and castles in the Perpignan region. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
Le Grenat theatre. Photo © Kahle Acoustics