Scarabaeus – SKA

Cultural centre in an old cinema and theatre

To avoid the often intimidating feeling of institutional architecture, the project took the deliberate decision not to demolish and rebuild a unified façade. Instead, it works with the existing buildings, embracing their individuality while strengthening their spatial connections.

The building opens up to both streets: the main public entrance to the Chaussée de Haecht, and a second, more intimate entrance to Rue Creuse.

The centre of the urban block, once occupied by the former cinema hall, has been transformed to become the light-filled heart of the cultural centre, a generous, versatile foyer space known as the Shed.

By replacing the original roof with a new shed structure, the height of the party walls was lowered, allowing natural light to filter deep into the interior and even reach the adjacent gardens.

Scarabaeus – SKA

Cultural centre in an old cinema and theatre

Year: 2019

Status: Built

Program: Cultural equipment

Location: Brussels, Belgium

Budget: 7.300.000 exc. VAT

Surface: 2500 m²

Client: Municipality of Schaerbeek

Stability: JZH & Partners

HVAC: JZH & Partners

Energy: JZH & Partners

Landscape: Lokus

Acoustics: Kahle Acoustics

Theatre techniques: Artsceno

Located in a dense and vivid neighborhood of the city, the project reorganizes and connects three existing buildings, each one facing two parallel streets with different qualities. A former cinema and individual housing towards the important Chaussée de Haecht, a former theatre towards the backstreet, much more residential and intimate than on the other facade.

The new project takes advantage of the existing qualities and limits of construction and potential and transforms the whole site into a new and inspiring place open on the city, its inhabitants and direct context. We keep as much existing buildings as possible, while offering new relations and general attitude of the site towards the city.

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