ROYAL THEATRE LA MONNAIE / DE MUNT 1986
LOCATION
Brussels, Belgium
CLIENT
REGIE DES BATIMENTS DIRECTION
Bruxelles-Capitale
PARTNER
URBAT
AREA
34 800 sqm above ground (1 250 seats)
PROGRAM
Opera house
PROJECT
1986
STATUS
Built
© J. Jacobs
The Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie is a symbol of both architectural continuity and historical significance, blending classic design with modern extensions while marking the site of the 1830 Belgian Revolution.
The symbolic importance of the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie holds far more significance in the public mind than merely being a venue for operatic performances; it must not be forgotten that behind the eight columns supporting its peristyle, on August 25, 1830, during a performance of The Mute Girl of Portici, a riot broke out, an event that triggered the Belgian Revolution. When the architects began their work, the architectural objective was twofold. On one hand, the aim was to create the ideal space for operatic productions, within the setting of an Italianate theater, while preserving the aesthetic characteristics of a monument whose configuration, constraints, and history demanded a classic spatial organization. On the other hand, it was necessary for the presence of the theater and its extensions to blend seamlessly with the urban fabric, without conflicting with the elements of the past or obscuring the contemporary additions.
The solution chosen involved raising the roofline by four meters, employing an architectural approach that enhances the building’s identity with a parallelepiped that extends and highlights the main structure of the existing building — a pure volume symbolizing the continuity of classical architecture and respect for the old structure. This new identity expresses itself in the design and continuity of its façades: at the front, the new foyer, a complex area spread over several levels; on the side, the rigorous rhythm of the windows of the new offices; at the rear, the stage house reflects the imperatives of its function through the total absence of apertures, except for the emergency exits on the rear gable wall. Finally, in addition to its obvious function of collecting rainwater and its architectural role as the building’s crowning feature, the blue enamelled cornice accentuates the building’s arrangement and adds the finishing touch.
