The new Lappeenranta City Theatre is housed, unusually for a theatre, within a new extension of a city centre shopping mall. The new theatre is an interesting example of a cultural institution’s mission to reach out to wider audiences by placing itself in the midst of people’s everyday environment.

The building has no dramatic elevation to emphasise its role in the cityscape, as it is fully integrated with the top floors of the shopping mall. The foyer of the theatre opens up towards the high central hall of the mall, forming a part of its colourful interior landscape. The public spaces are furnished with monochrome dark and metallic surfaces providing a convincing contrast to the abundance of colour and information stimuli of the shopping mall. The theatre is part of the everyday buzz of the mall, and yet its elegant simplicity raises the ambiance above and beyond the ordinary.

 

Source:

The Finlandia Prize for Architecture 2016 shortlist

Location

Kaivokatu 5, Lappeenranta
61.0568111, 28.1933229

Images

Foyer, Lappeenranta City Theatre
Foyer, Lappeenranta City Theatre (© Tuomas Uusheimo)
Lappeenranta City Theatre
Lappeenranta City Theatre (© Tuomas Uusheimo)
Lappeenranta City Theatre
Lappeenranta City Theatre (© Tuomas Uusheimo)
Foyer, Lappeenranta City Theatre
Foyer, Lappeenranta City Theatre (© Tuomas Uusheimo)
Main stage, Lappeenranta City Theatre
Main stage, Lappeenranta City Theatre (© Tuomas Uusheimo)
Acoustic panelling, Lappeenranta City Theatre
Acoustic panelling, Lappeenranta City Theatre (© Tuomas Uusheimo)
Acoustic panelling, Lappeenranta City Theatre
Acoustic panelling, Lappeenranta City Theatre (© Tuomas Uusheimo)
Small stage, Lappeenranta City Theatre
Small stage, Lappeenranta City Theatre (© Tuomas Uusheimo)
Revolving stage mechanism, Lappeenranta City Theatre
Revolving stage mechanism, Lappeenranta City Theatre (© Tuomas Uusheimo)
Site plan, Lappeenranta City Theatre
Site plan, Lappeenranta City Theatre (© ALA Architects)
2nd floor, main theatre floor, Lappeenranta City Theatre
2nd floor, main theatre floor, Lappeenranta City Theatre (© ALA Architects)
3rd floor, upper theatre floor, Lappeenranta City Theatre
3rd floor, upper theatre floor, Lappeenranta City Theatre (© ALA Architects)
Section, Lappeenranta City Theatre
Section, Lappeenranta City Theatre (© ALA Architects)

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