2017
The Comédie — Saint-Étienne
Commissioned by Studio Milou Architecture in 2012, we participated in the architectural competition for the Comédie de Saint-Étienne National Drama Center. The transformation of the industrial buildings at the Manufacture Plaine-Achille into a drama center and school required a strong visual presence facing the city. From the competition phase onward, we proposed reusing the structures of the overhead cranes to suspend signs reminiscent of those found in old urban theaters. Drawing on the dot-based composition of the Comédie’s logo, we used red LEDs on a red background to replace traditional neon lights. These lights, originally navigation lights specially modified for the project, are layered across three distinct planes, lending a luminous depth to the typographic compositions. Two types of lighting combined (70° and 360° bulbs) ensure legibility and allow each light plane to be linked into a single colorful, shimmering whole. The signs placed on the north and south bridges mark the building’s entrances; the one on the west gable, thanks to its elevated position, points toward the city. The interior signage is reduced to the essentials. Information is directly and simply affixed to the walls, with a glazing technique revealing the material beneath.
Design Team — Ruedi Baur, Chantal Grossen, and David Thoumazeau Renovation
Architects — Studio Milou