Théâtre de la Digue

Toulouse, France
2023 - 2024
Status: restricted competition, 1st Prize
Client: Ville de Toulouse
BERGER&BERGER (lead architect)
Team: Théo Vachon
Collaborators: FPO1 (local architect), Terrell (structural engineering), Soconer (MEP), FCS (scenography), Gamba (acoustics), Execo (cost), Keyros (BIM)
Surface: 1 200m²

The requalification of the Théâtre de la Digue integrates the urban landscape, the city of Toulouse, and the theater. From the public square in front of it to the new theater stage on the upper floors, connected by the original performance hall transformed into an open space for all audiences... The square “sliding” under the building on the ground floor, guiding the public within.

The project engages with the history of the place, working with the existing heritage, while making objective improvements: new, high-performance façades and an additional structure that supports a new stage designed for theatrical creation. These are "grafted" additions to the existing structure, preserving its architectural qualities.
The new facade is made of glass bricks. Openable frames are integrated at specific points, creating views and openings onto the square. This choice places the theater within a modern architectural history, with the glass brickwork arrangement having been made famous by the construction of Pierre Chareau's Maison de Verre. This implementation ensures both the longevity of the structure, a contribution of natural light, and a specific visual presence with changing atmospheric effects, depending on the angle of the sunlight and artificial lighting.

On the ground floor, the original stage and its seating are preserved to become the reception area, an open platform for multiple uses. It transforms into an agora, an archaeological structure that alternates between hosting exhibitions, conferences, events, and educational and cultural activities. This versatile platform is characterized by the heritage value of the concrete structure and is enhanced by the introduction of direct and indirect natural light through the removal, demolition, addition, and construction of architectural elements that create new openings, radically transforming the space, breaking down its boundaries, and allowing natural light to enter where it was previously absent.

The Théâtre de la Digue thus offers a dual venue: a lower hall and an upper hall. This new hall on level +2 allows for artistic creation and the hosting of companies as part of performing arts residencies. It is a flexible space, acoustically treated, with thermal properties, efficient and adapted to the creation of contemporary theatrical works. This new architecture is positioned above the existing one, suspended almost 10 meters high. It provides a unique volume for the public/performance relationship, with a depth of 22.80 meters, a width of 15.00 meters, and a height of 11.00 meters.

In a modern spatial archaeology, our project creates a direct public access from the city to the existing stage and the new theater hall. The latter meets a wide range of contemporary performance needs, whether for theater, dance, or amplified concerts. This architecture allows for flexibility and adaptability in production, preparation, rehearsal, and performance conditions, as well as in the relationships with the audience.