New Arts Center/Theatre Building in Sundsvall

Kulturmagasinet, which opened just over 20 years ago, was a major investment which quickly became very popular and much visited and has served as SundsvallÂ’s trademark. Th e Municipality plans to make a further cultural investment for the benefi t of all Sundsvall residents, but with special emphasis on todayÂ’s young people and future generations, by providing the theatre and other cultural activities with new premises in the centre of town. Independent culture, amateur activities, popular education and clubs and societies will be given the opportunity of using this building.

Together with Kulturmagasinet, the new arts centre/theatre will offer the people of Sundsvall cultural activity which will inspire and deepen interest and be a source of enjoyment and everyday social experience. The new building will adjoin, and be linked to, Kulturmagasinet, so that together the two buildings and the activities inside them will create a new, integrated arts complex complete with squares and piazzas in the heart of the town.

The positioning of the arts centre/theatre next to Kulturmagasinet will bring all forms of culture close together, at the same time creating nearness between visitors, clubs and societies and professional players. All in all, this will be a living and many-sided meeting point. Th e arts complex must off er a comprehensive range of cultural amenities, which in turn presupposes pooling of the facilities in the existing and new buildings. It is particularly important that visitors and staff should be able to move easily between the two buildings. Guest productions of different kinds will take place concurrently with performances by Teater Västernorrland.

The competition brief is to present a scheme for an arts centre/theatre which together with Kulturmagasinet will form an integrated arts complex. Thee new arts centre/theatre is to have a strong architectural identity and be a landmark building for Sundsvall in one of its most important locations; the new arts complex area is to be given a design conducive to meetings and frequentation; and existing and new functions in the arts centre/theatre and Kulturmagasinet are to be interlinked and interactive in the best possible way.

More Information:
http://www.arkitekt.se/tavlingar/sundsvall2008
[email protected]