Domaine de Bayssan by K Architectures Sigwalt Herman

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It’s an understatement to say that the Bayssan estate near Béziers in south-west France is "steeped in tradition", human settlements having provably existed at the 160-hectare site since the Neolithic period. More recently the property has particularly made a name for itself as a cultural location at which the Sortie Oues Theatre has long staged its performances in several circus tents.

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Now K Architectures Sigwalt Herman of Paris has provided Domaine de Bayssan a more durable venue in the form of a three-part complex, clearly oriented to the tent architecture of the impermanent structures that preceded it at the site.

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The smallest – and most open – of the three contains the box office, toilets and a restaurant, whose dining area at the heart of the circular volume is overarched by a striking pleated wooden roof and radially arranged garland lights. Of all the new buildings, none echo the style of a ‘big top’ as noticeably as here. 

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This applies less so to the theatre auditorium in the neighbouring tent-like structure, which as the larger of the two at the site can accommodate an audience of 423 on partially retractable tiers of red upholstered seats. Its deep and staggered stage area in matte black alone is flanked by storage rooms, offices and dressing rooms.

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At 965 seats, the open-air amphitheatre at the other end of the theatre enclave has more than double the capacity. To avoid too abrupt a contrast between the concrete semicircle and the neighbouring wooden tents, the architects also clad its exterior in the same triangular slatted larch panels.

© Sophie Oddo

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And although the pleated sheet metal canopy over the stage at the amphitheatre provides a further – albeit oblique – reference to circus tents, the exposed concrete of the tiered seating is a clear indication that the new theatre circus at Domaine de Bayssan is here to stay.