The Dance and Music Centre on the Spuiplein in The Hague is an open, inviting building that bristles with energy. Instead of being a closed theatre box, the complex is a transparent tower for culture that features an ingenious stacking of functions.
Resembling an oversized vitrine, the building proudly flaunts its cultural activities, revealing its internal vibrancy to the city. Starting from Central Station, visitors are led by a meandering trail of light to the city’s cultural hotspots, one of which is the Spuiplein.
As a cultural beacon in the city, the tower stands on a base with an elevated park. The halls and Conservatory are situated higher up, making way for a transparent plinth containing hospitality venues, shops and a two-storey entrance hall fronting the main square. The complex features two concert halls.
The largest of them, situated sixty metres off the ground, affords spectacular views over the city; six floors below, the small concert hall forms the heart of the music academy. Directly below is the dance academy. A dynamic facade results from the angled lines of the transparent escalators placed on the edge of the building.
During special events the glass facade of the entrance hall slides up, enabling inside and outside to form one huge podium for performances and concerts. Sustainable measures in the Dance and Music Centre reduce energy consumption and also contribute positively to the social quality of the complex.
The design considers the application of innovative techniques such as wind turbines and hydrogenerators. As parts of these systems are made publicly visible, the building functions as a catalyst for both culture and sustainability.