Renens

Extension and refurbishment of a concert hall – towards a new civic space

The extension is a densely programmed volume generating a void along the existing concert hall. This interstice, between the new and the existing structure, opens onto the street, houses the multipurpose hall, and forms the new covered civic space of Renens. Through this intervention, the previously hermetic complex is transformed into a more permeable, universally accessible entity.

The existing spaces are integrated into a choreography, where novel interior spatial relationships extend into the exterior, offering multiple possibilities for appropriation and hosting events. The treatment of the existing structure allows it to evolve into the present: targeted interventions and transformations enable its built substance to engage in dialogue with the new extension.

"Chemins de Désir" strengthens the site’s memory by preserving, complementing, and integrating the concert hall into new perspectives, ensuring its transition into a key venue for the social and political life of the City of Renens.