Sandvika Cultural Centre, Sandvika, Norway – Snohetta
Designed by Scandinavian Architectural Supremos Snohetta, the new Cultural Centre in Sandvika, Norway is an excellent building, and one that firmly plants itself at the architectural centre of this bustling metropolis. Bridging the gap between the old and the new towns, the Sandvika Cultural Centre is the embodiment of statement architecture.
It exudes quality, as is very much a member of the International style, with the architecture being a suitable and viable addition to any modern city. Its success lies in its ability to make itself a part of the city around it, with its large windowed wall, and the public foyer – this maybe a high class, private building, but it has sewn itself well into the public urban fabric of this town, and any building that is able to walk the line between private and public so well deserves its accolades.
“The Sandvika Cultural Centre is built on an exciting town centre site. The building forms the focal point of an important cultural axis running through the town centre of Sandvika outside of Oslo. The building connects the old town hall, the bridge across the river, administrative offices, and cinema complex.
Opened in October of 2003, the cultural centre is formed around a 600 seat theatre hall, equipped with all necessary back stage facilities, two rehearsal rooms and a large public foyer. The foyer and rehearsal rooms reach out to the street scape. Here theatre patrons experience a behind the scenes look of the up coming performances on a daily basis.
Designed for acoustic concerts and with a large stage area to accommodate dance performances, the building has a dramatic presence within the existing urban context, giving culture an identity in Sandvika and Sandvika an identity on the Norwegian cultural scene”, Snohetta
