Zaha Hadid Architects
Post By:Kitticoon Poopong
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| Image © Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects |
"I am delighted to be building the Grand Theatre in Rabat… Morocco’s unique musical traditions and rich cultural history in the performing arts are renowned throughout the world. I am honoured to be part of the cultural development of the nation’s capital."Zaha Hadid, founding partner of Zaha Hadid Architects, and Lemghari Essakl, Managing Director of l’Agence pour l’Aménagement de la Vallée du Bouregreg (The Bouregreg Valley Development Agency) signed an agreement for the architectural design of the Rabat Grand Theatre at a ceremony held in Rabat.
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| Image © Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects |
With a dedicated land area of 47 000 sqm and a gross floor area of 27 000 sqm, the Rabat Grand Theatre is a cultural venue of the highest standards. It will include a 2,050-seat theatre, a smaller 520-seat theatre, creative studios and a fully-equipped outdoor amphitheatre with a capacity of up to 7,000 people. The cost of the project is estimated at 1.35 Billion Moroccan Dirhams (120 Million Euros).
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| Image © Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects |
In his statement to the press, Mr. Essakl said,
"The Grand Theatre is part of a national programme of cultural development initiated by His Majesty King Mohammed VI. The construction of the Grand Theatre will allow Rabat to showcase its rich cultural heritage as one the world’s greatest cultural centres."
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| Image © Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects |
by Zaha Hadid ArchitectsThe site for the Grand Theatre sits in the geographic centre between the twin cities of Rabat and Salè; the historic Kasbah Oudayas to the north-west, the ancient city of Salè and airport to the north-east, Chellah and the Royal Palace to the south-west and the proposed Sequence III of Amwaj Development to the east.
The design takes its energy from the Bouregreg River. The dynamics of the river is introduced into the site, generating the landscape of the park that engulfs the amphitheatre. This gesture gathers strength from the ground and in one fluent sweep, extends into the sky to generate the envelope that sculpts itself over the two auditoria, arches back to the ground and melts back into the landscape.
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| Image © Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects |
These fluid sculptural forms create a seamless spatial experience that flows into the main foyer, moulding the grand staircases. This fluidity provides an intuitive visual and physical guide for visitors.
The people
Project: Rabat Grand Theatre
Location: Rabat, Morocco
Program: Culture | Grand Theatre, Multi-purpose Theatre, Amphitheatre
Size: Site Area: Approx. 47,000 m2
GFA: Approx. 27,000 m2
Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects
Design: Zaha Hadid with Patrik Schumacher
Associate: Nils Peter Fisher
Project Leader: William Tan
Project Team: Torsten Broeder, Martin Krcha, Hoda Nobakhti, Rafael Contreras, Yevgeniya Pozigun, Michal Treder
Client: Agence pour l’Aménagement de la Vallée du Bouregreg (The Bouregreg Valley Development Agency) | http://www.bouregreg.com
Structure Engineer: Adams Kara Taylor [London]
MEP Engineer: MaxFordham [London]
Acoustics & Theatre: Artec Consultant [New York]
Facade: Donnell Consultants Incorporated [Florida]
Lighting: Office for Visual Interaction Inc [New York]
About
The Bouregreg Valley Development Agency is a public company in charge of the development and project management of the Bouregreg riverbanks. The Agency also supervises large-scale infrastructure projects such as the Rabat-Salé Tramway.
London-based Zaha Hadid Architects is internationally known for consistently pushing the boundaries of urban architecture and design. Some of the firm’s seminal works include the MAXXI: National Museum of 21st Century Art in Rome, the Phaeno Science Center in Wolfsburg and the Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art in Cincinnati. Zaha Hadid was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004.
