Massimiliano Fuksas Architetto
Zenith Music Hall
Strasbourg, France

Photo: Moreno Maggi
The new Zenith Music Hall, with its playful form and character, is an important project for the exhibition area in Strasbourg. It will give new impulse to the future development of the city’s infrastructure.
The building is to be understood as a single, unifying and autonomous sculpture. By layering and rotating the ellipsoid metal facade structure, the design acquires a very dynamic character. This is underlined with the translucent textile membrane, which covers the steel-frame and creates magnificent light effects.

Photo: Moreno Maggi

Photo: Moreno Maggi

Photo: Moreno Maggi

Photo: Moreno Maggi
The 10,000 seats are arranged in a circular pattern within the tiered structure offering the audience flawless conditions for visibility, acoustics, comfort and safety.

Photo: Moreno Maggi
During the day the building appears as a monolith of calmness, at night, when the inner experience is transmitted to the outside thought the translucent orange textile skin, the building becomes a light sculpture. Projections on the outer skin create playful effects and converts the facade into a huge billboard.

Photo: Moreno Maggi

Photo: Moreno Maggi

Photo: Moreno Maggi
The Zenith concept dates back to the early 80’s when the French Ministry of Culture recognized the need to create regional large-scale entertainment venues, responding to the growing demands of pop and rock culture. Since then 14 more venues have landed all across the French nation but this one in Strasbourg being the largest.

Drawing courtesy Massimiliano Fuksas Architetto
Masterplan

Drawing courtesy Massimiliano Fuksas Architetto
Plan

Drawing courtesy Massimiliano Fuksas Architetto
Longitudinal Section

Drawing courtesy Massimiliano Fuksas Architetto
Cross Section
Photo courtesy Massimiliano Fuksas Architetto
Model

Photo courtesy Massimiliano Fuksas Architetto
Model

Photo Courtesy Massimiliano Fuksas Architetto
Model
Total area: 20,142 square meters
Building area: 16,564 square meters
Seats : 10.000
Completed: 2008
Client: Communitée urban de Strasbourg (S.E.R.S.)
Architects: Massimiliano Fuksas Architetto
Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas
General Contractor: PERTUY Construction, Strasbourg
Consultants:
Structure and Mechanical:
BETOM-Ingénierie, Versailles
Z&M Zwahlen & Mayr SA, CH Aigle
Scenography: A& T, Montigny les Bretonneux
Acustical: ALTIA-Acoustique, Paris
Textile:
Form TL ingenieure für tragwerk und leichtbau gmbh
CANOBBIO S.p.A., Castelnuovo Scrivia
Massimiliano Fuksas arcspace features
August 18, 2008