Snøhetta Transforms Théâtre Nanterre-Amandiers into an Urban Lantern

This article examines Snøhetta’s renovation of Théâtre Nanterre-Amandiers in Nanterre, France. The project unifies the theatre’s performance spaces around a newly inserted tilted glass Grand Hall.

The redesign adds a 200-seat auditorium and reconfigures public areas to emphasize flexibility and daylight. It also strengthens the connection between the building, the city, and the adjacent park, while preserving the venue’s architectural identity.

Project overview and design intent

Snøhetta’s intervention redefines how the theatre operates and interacts with its urban context. The transformation prioritises an open, daylight-filled public realm and smoother circulation.

Adaptable spaces accommodate a range of artistic practices from intimate performances to large-scale events. The project respects the building’s history—from its 1965 inception as a temporary structure through Jacques Kalisz’s 1976 rebuild—while preparing the theatre for contemporary audiences.

The Grand Hall as the architectural heart

The centerpiece of the renovation is a fully glazed Grand Hall on the footprint of the former foyer. It introduces a new roof and a sunken floor, creating dual access routes from an upper forecourt and a lower stepped plaza.

A mezzanine hovers above the space, offering additional entry points into the auditoria. The ceiling is acoustically and technically integrated to support performances and meetings.

• Fully glazed Grand Hall preserves the foyer footprint while introducing new transparency and volume.
• A sunken floor enables access from multiple levels, enhancing circulation and social interaction.
• A mezzanine provides vantage points and flexible entry into the various spaces.
• The hall’s ceiling accommodates stage equipment, allowing it to function as a standalone venue when needed.

Flexible spaces for modern performance

The renovation changes how audiences move through the building. Spaces can now be repurposed to meet different artistic and technical needs.

The theatre houses a suite of spaces for various scales and configurations. All areas are linked by daylight and improved urban access.

Auditorium details and accessibility

Two main performance spaces are expanded and modernised. The main 800-seat auditorium has improved sightlines and accessibility, while a new 200-seat theatre supports experimental work with adaptable seating and access.

The main space can be reduced with curtains for smaller productions or rehearsals. The second venue adds a more intimate setting for contemporary performances.

• Main 800-seat auditorium updated for accessibility, technical capacity, and sightlines.
• New 200-seat theatre with motorised telescopic seating for flexibility and intimacy.
• Refurbished flexible auditorium featuring mobile seating and motorised platforms to accommodate evolving staging needs.

Material strategy, daylighting and urban presence

The design uses a restrained material palette of concrete, wood, and glass to create spaces that feel warm, robust, and responsive to daylight. This material choice helps the theatre appear as an illuminated urban lantern after dark, drawing in passersby.

Material palette and atmosphere

• Concrete, wood and glass form a restrained yet expressive palette that balances durability with warmth.
• Daylight-driven spaces ensure the interiors shift with the sun, crafting evolving moods.
• The Grand Hall and associated volumes function as urban lanterns at night, enhancing the theatre’s nocturnal presence.

Landscaping, collaboration and imagery

The exterior and surrounding spaces are redesigned to strengthen the relationship between the building and its park.

Landscaping for the sunken courtyard was undertaken in collaboration with Atelier Silva Landscaping.

This integrates the courtyard with the public realm and the theatre’s renewed interior flows.

The project is documented through photography by Jared Chulski.

His images capture the luminous interplay of glass, daylight, and urban life.

• Sunken courtyard landscaping by Atelier Silva Landscaping connects indoors and outdoors.
• Public integration with the adjacent park is a core aim of the redesign.
• Photography by Jared Chulski showcases the project’s daylighting, materiality, and night-time presence.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Snøhetta transforms Théâtre Nanterre-Amandiers in France into “urban lantern”