© 2008 Rook & Nagelkerke
THEATRE DE HARMONIE
F.J. VAN DONGEN (DE ARCHITEKTEN CIE.), 1990-1995
Ruiterskwartier 4/Wilhelminaplein, Leeuwarden
ARCHITECT(URAL OFFICE):
Frits van Dongen
de Architekten Cie.
BUILDING TYPE:
Cinemas and theatres
ARCHITECT(URAL OFFICE):
Frits van Dongen
de Architekten Cie.
BUILDING TYPE:
Cinemas and theatres
PUBLICATIONS:
de Architect 1995-2; Archis 1995-6; Jaarboek 1994-1995; F. Feddes, A. Jolles Frits van Dongen. Bouwen aan Cultuur, 2007
Sited along Stadsgracht on the rim of the old town, the various auditoria for theatre, film, music and congresses are treated as discrete elements set in a largely rectangular volume; to the south is a further rectangular row of offices and service spaces. The residual space between the auditoria acts as a foyer. Almost entirely clad in semi-transparent glass panels, it turns the building into a shadow pantomime by night. Inside, the world of glamour and glitter is evoked by loud colours, gold columns and lighting effects. The free form of the auditoria and deployment of concrete pilotis are an allusion to the post-war modernism of Le Corbusier and Oscar Niemeyer.