kengo kuma's proposed congress center and philharmonic hall for angers, france

kengo kuma and associates has shared images of its plans for a congress center and philharmonic hall, designed for the western french city of angers.

the scheme was originally part of a restricted competition organized in 2012, before the project was abruptly cancelled in mid-2014. the vast 25,220 square meter development includes a symphony hall for 1,700 people, the headquarters for the ‘orchestre national des pays de la loire’, a congress center, a hotel, and a terraced restaurant.

the congress center is positioned along a prominent boulevard, directly facing the river. the building gradually opens, presenting sweeping views of the nearby city. the proposal is materialized through a spiraling gesture that seeks to fragment the building’s mass as much as possible — thus minimizing urban impact, while maximizing connectivity. this organic vortex is derived from the swirling nature of the adjacent river maine, connecting each aspect of the program: congress center, philharmonic hall, and hotel.

the building’s façade is formed of metallic strips that horizontally wrap around the building, providing interior glimpses and defining entrances and exits. measuring over 22 kilometers in total, the structure’s anodized aluminum skin is responsible for filtering sunlight and controlling illumination throughout the project’s interior.

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