PROJECT
Cinema "Le Grand Palais" in Cahors (FR)
Client
Council of Cahors
'Société Cadurcienne d'Exploitation
Cinématographique'
ARCHITECT
PROJECT MANAGER
CONTRACTOR
FACING BRICKS
PROCESSING
random bond, thin joint
Photos: © Luc Boegly - © antonio virga architecte
3D plans: © Matthieu Barrabé, AIR STUDIO
Video report: the architect speaking
© Kansei TV
‘Le Grand Palais’ cinema in Cahors constructed using the 'linea 9001'
Visual dialogue between two striking volumes of facing brick and perforated gilded metal
The cinema is located on the north side of the historic centre of Cahors, a stone’s throw from the banks of the river Lot. The project gave the city council the opportunity to commemorate the old barracks in the Place Bessières and to restore the symmetry from yesteryear which was lost when a fire completely destroyed the east wing in 1943.
The architectural lines are based on a strict logic, with the two former buildings from the barracks serving as benchmarks. In the search for a powerful contemporary aesthetic, the architecture of the cinema exceeds the objective to reconstruct the morphology of the former barracks. The volumes were created methodically and then visually streamlined in order to respect the symmetry. The building comprises two volumes – one in the Hand-Made linea 9001 facing brick and the other in perforated gilded metal – with each fulfilling a specific role in relation to the public space.
The volume in linea 9001 facing brick – a visual echo of the two buildings from the old barracks – was conceived as a distinctive contemporary reinterpretation. It is without doubt the centrepiece of the square, certainly in view of its direct link with the city’s history. The choice of facing brick was dictated by the desire to reflect the collective memory of the citizens of Cahors, albeit while avoiding any hint of pastiche.
The template and the appearance of the volume are enhanced by the unique character of the roof and façade cladding. The monolithic volume is extended to the upper levels via the imposing façades and includes an example of a mashrabiya, consisting of little perforations which lighten the look of the façade slightly and give the whole extra cachet. This alternation between open and solid parts of the façade is based on a functional logic. The perforated envelope enlivens the internal spaces during the day and creates an intriguing interplay of light and shadow at night, with tiny shimmering lights creating a magical effect when viewed from outside.
The gilded volume was designed as an extension of the brick volume. The visual contrast with the elegant linea 9001 facing brick makes the second building seem almost subservient to the main building. The colour matches between the light facing brick and the gilded metal are reminiscent of the characteristic shades from the historic centre of Cahors. The aesthetics of the new cinema are in keeping with the surroundings of the Lot, with both the façades and the roof being clad in brick. We considered it necessary to use a brick made from clay in order to ensure the intended authenticity and sustainability. In so doing, brick – a material that crops up again and again in the architecture of Cahors (in the tower of Pope Johannes XXII a few metres further on, for example) – gives a qualitative nod to the local history and the identity of the city.
