On the one hand the most important and largest spaces of a theatre building, the main halls, are often designed as closed volumes. This creates a building that will be recognized as a closed (not active) building. On the other hand the moment of activity in the theater is crucial. Most of the theaters are only open for public in the weekends and in the evening hours.

The new Zuidplein Theatre is a theatre with three main theatre halls. Besides its main theatre function the building will also accommodate smaller activities for the neighbourhood. For example dance activities for schools, meetings for small companies and singing lessons for elderly people. These 'chance functions' will offer different opportunities for the people of the southern part of Rotterdam to meet each other and to develop themselves.

This new theatre is a building that has the opportunity to open itself and show the neighbourhood its activities. The large theatre halls are flexible spaces which can be transformed into smaller spaces. In this way the theater can be used for the smaller 'chance functions' when there is no show. The theatre will transform itself during the week and shows its different activities at every moment of the day.

Thanks to:
Helena Casanova [Casanova + Hernandez Architecten]
Laurens Jan ten Kate [Architectuurstudio Herman Hertzberger]