New Regional Culture Center
The project shows a solution where all the cultural programs are distributed over only two stories which will encourage general public to enter and use the building. Two separate entrances lead directly to the vestibule. From here the visitors will get an optimal overview of the building's various functions and feel well received and taken care of.
The Library is the backbone of the Culture Centre with its public areas facing the park. All sections except the Newton Room and Ole Vigs Room, are located on the main level. The library sections are close to each other, but scattered in the meeting areas which embodies the library as a venue for both spontaneous and scheduled meetings, culture-, information- and knowledge-dissemination. The layout of the bookshelves creates various spaces, from sheltered reading areas facing the park's contemplative water mirrors to child and youth sections that opens up towards the interiors. By simple rearrangement of the shelves, a foyer can be created to host larger events. Library and offices on the main level ensures that the public can easily find or get help from the staff.
The Church and the Chamber hall are in the south End, with a common entrance which also serves the Church office space. The Church occupies the quiet area of the building, yet with good contact to the other functions, well-exposed in both interior and exterior. Separate entrance from the park provides great setting for the ceremonies.
The Youth House is situated close to the Library with entrance both inside, from the Library, and outside, from the school and sports areas in the north.
The Culture School in the 2nd floor is like a wreath around the main hall. This ensures that the various workshops and rehearsal rooms gets natural light and view outwards, and is perceived as the "nursery" for the culture that is produced and eventually will be presented in the main hall.
The Hotel is situated in northwest, with a gradual transition between the Hotel lobby and vestibule of the Culture Centre. The rooms are stacked in a sleek tower of 11 floors. Cinema is added to the north, near the Hotel and the most trafficked public area. The location of the kiosk / coffee shop gives possibility to isolate the Cinema easily from the rest of the program. The main Hall has a central location in the facility to encourage combined usage of adjacent areas and to confirm its own importance for the facility as a whole.
The project is shown with a façade in coloured perforated steel plates. It must nevertheless be understood that the project's robustness allows for other expressions, the model shows an alternative.
The perforated steel plates of the façade are meant as a tribute to local building tradition, designed to resemble light wooden panelling of the farm buildings in the area. The degree of perforation will vary and depend on the wanted expression for the programme inside. This skin will both cover some of the window and be opened as traditional shutters. Due to wishes and demands for openness and closeness, the exterior is designed to change according to weather, time of day and the degree of use. The colour in the facade could be used to describe diversity of / distinguish between programmes.
The Culture Centre will be exposed in various ways and reflect the living culture of the city. Like the applications on an iPhone will content of iBox be able to change its character. The iBox will be a landmark for Stjørdal; the characteristic façade signalling a bold commitment to culture and youth, but also giving the building a scale that adapts it to Stjørdal Centrum.
The Park is designed as a large square lawn featuring various elements creating a Quilt of places and paths. The contrast to the nearby nature-like outdoor areas will strengthen the urban sensations of the Park and Stjørdals city-character.
The water mirror will be a contemplative element to the interiors, a reflector that brings daylight into the building and a creative element in the park throughout the year, while at the same time handling the excess water.
The Amphitheatre will be an eruptive element in the flat grassy plane. The non-defined stage floor suits events of all sizes, with the indoor wardrobe and rehearsal facilities linked to the stage via the bridge over the water mirror; the actors entering the water mirror will build up a distinctive dramaturgy and resemble that of Greek amphitheatres with the landscape as framework. During the winter the amphitheatre could be used as a ski slope.
