Paard van Troje (Trojan Horse)
OMA

Photo © Hans Werlemann (Hectic)

After a renovation and extension by OMA the performance center, Paard van Troje (Trojan Horse) opened to the public at the beginning of the new cultural season in September.

With most of the new construction located behind an ancient monumental facade Paard van Troje, Trojan Horse, is an appropriate name for the cultural center, previously known as Paard.


Photo © Hans Werlemann (Hectic)

With most of the new construction located behind an ancient monumental facade Paard van Troje, Trojan Horse, is an appropriate name.

/OMA

The Netherlands National Trust for Historic Buildings protected one of the two classic buildings that form the center, while the other building had only its original facade left.


Photo © Hans Werlemann (Hectic)

By removing the old construction behind the historic facade, a complicated problem of space and acoustics could be solved efficiently.  The small concert hall, with seating for 300 people, was positioned directly behind the historic facade while the large concert hall, seating 1100 people, was constructed on the backside of the two buildings, making it accessible from an adjacent street.

The entrances of both halls are on the same level so that they can be used together for large events. The cafe in the historic building is also connected so that all public spaces can be used together.


Photo © Hans Werlemann (Hectic)

The lobby, under the small concert hall, shows the confrontation of old and new. The walls are left untreated and show damages and changes that happened during the last century. The small hall is supported by six beams with large buffers and does not touch the historic walls and facade, avoiding acoustic leaking.


Photo © Hans Werlemann (Hectic)

At the Lange Beestenmarkt side the new facade, of Cor-Ten steal, was constructed so that water is drained inside the facade.