Viby cultural centre

LOCAL IDENTITY AND CULTURAL MARKER FOR A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY

A town’s cultural centre can be traced all the way back to the agrarian society. Back then, the frequent and annually recurring festivals were an important part of social life.

SCALE MIMICRY

Our proposal for a new community house builds on the architectural qualities of the historical buildings along the main street of the town. The architecture of the cultural centre fits into the streetscape by echoing the familiar scale of the former diary. It draws inspiration from the characteristic bends, corners, and niches of the town’s public spaces. Facing the street, the house presents a recognizable volume which, like the diary, features a projecting gable and a recessed facade. Windows and cornice bands align with the height of neighbouring windows, while gable and mansard roofs are also familiar elements.

The functions of the cultural centre unfold on the town square. The square becomes the floor, and the prominent roof is essentially a large canopy covering all the activities and functions taking place there. The roof, mansard, and gable form strong visual surfaces which, through a two-part facade composition, enhance the experience of the open ground floor and the covered square.

BARN TYPOLOGY

The structure, with its repeating column or half-timbered motif, suggests a light building, somewhat pavilion-like, conveying a sense of flexibility and the potential for individual contribution. Materiality and architecture reference the typology of rural barns, which were often the largest buildings found in the countryside. These were the places where people gathered for dances and larger assemblies.

The cultural centre is organized around the inner square, stretching from Søndergade in the west to the town square in the east, creating access from public spaces on both sides. Entrances are emphasized on both ends by a shift in the facade, which creates a natural flow towards the entryways in the form of framed and downscaled outdoor spaces.

Culture

Transformation

Public

Private

Planning