The Namur Province Cultural Center is situated in the heart of Namur, on the north bank of the Sambir River, directly opposite the historic city center known as ‘Le Grognon’. Originally designed by Victor Bourgeois and completed in the early 1960s, the building has undergone renovation and expansion to better serve the current needs of the community and to accommodate the redevelopment of Boucher Street and the riverbanks.
The original structure features a 400-seat theater positioned at one end of a four-story rectangular volume with a curtain wall on the south side, overlooking the Sambir River. This connects to a five-story curved rectangular volume, referred to as the “Crescent,” which includes a curtain wall on its eastern side and a solid, windowless wall on the southern end.
The renovation project preserves the existing structure, excluding some smaller buildings attached to the backstage area and those in the northwest corner of the site. A mezzanine level has been added to the lobby of the 450-seat main theater, and a fourth floor has been introduced atop the “New Moon” section, expanded to accommodate new functional spaces. These additions include the “bow cylinder” on the east side of the “New Moon” and a significant expansion on the building’s northeast side.
Natural Ventilation and Acoustics
While natural ventilation and lighting can be effective in ideal urban settings, city environments often face challenges such as odors, noise, dust, dirt accumulation, overheating, and shading, which tend to degrade indoor environmental quality. Consequently, many buildings are designed as enclosed “boxes” to protect against these external factors, isolating them from their surroundings.
However, Namur’s city center benefits from favorable terrain and river proximity, promoting good air circulation and reducing the impact of these adverse conditions. This allows the project to adopt a more open and integrated architectural approach. The roof lighting system of the 450-seat main theater not only facilitates smoke evacuation and natural lighting but also enables natural ventilation through operable windows, as the building is sufficiently distant from noise sources.
Natural Lighting
Vertical blinds are installed on the eastern facade, while horizontal sunshades are placed on other sides to control natural light levels and provide shading. These measures ensure that all three theater stages receive ample natural light.
Performance Standards
The project carefully addresses several key factors, including preserving cultural heritage, integrating existing artworks, ensuring fire safety, providing accessibility (Access-i certification), and maintaining environmental responsibility (BREEAM certification is currently in progress).
Project Drawings
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Third Floor Plan
△ Fourth Floor Plan
△ Fifth Floor Plan
△ Sixth Floor Plan
△ Seventh Floor Plan
△ Eighth Floor Plan
△ Sectional Perspective
△ Sectional Perspective
Project Information
Architect: Philippe Samyn and Partners
Area: 8,560 m²
Year: 2019
Photographers: François Brix, Schmitt GlobalView
Lead Architect: Philippe Samyn
Leadership Team: Ghislain André
Technical Team: Giuseppe Cardillo
Engineering and Consulting: François Mairesse
Structural Consultant: McCarré
Service Engineering: SIX Consulting & Engineering, DTS & Co
Acoustic Engineering: Altia Acoustique
Lighting Consultant: dUCKS scéno
Landscape Architecture: Agora
Location: Namur, Belgium
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