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439
#
01-534
Project for a new cultural
and youth centre
and offices for Argos
/ ieper (West Flanders province)
/ 2007
The city of Ypres, whose origins date back to the Middle Ages, was
almost entirely destroyed during the First World War and it was rebuilt
at the end of the conflict. The current project is located to the west
of the city at the edge of the historic ramparts, in a residential zone
adjacent to the square in front of the railway station. The
cci
(Cultureel
Centrum Ieper) is made up of a multi-purpose auditorium – both
modular and flexible – along with its associated services. The glazed
facade facing the street is home to the ‘giants’ of Ypres (known as
Smoezepoezen) that are, as in many Belgian towns, an important part
of local folklore. In the same spirit the interior walls of the auditorium
are lined with ‘grandmothers’ wardrobes’. The former cattle market on
the site was turned into three small cinemas, an exhibition space, train-
ing facilities for Argos, offices and a reception area. The strong dynamic
of the diagonal volumes located in the parallelepiped of the former
structure are notable. The
joc
(youth centre) is a new volume built on
pilotis, to the south-west of the site. It contains a modular platform for
offices and various activities. Without losing its function, the railway
station’s former spaces have been modified and readapted as
an extension of the cultural centre.