Theatre Agora

The building of the theater and convention center in the Dutch city of Lelystad was opened to the public on March 10, 2007. Lelystad is located near Amsterdam on the Flevoland polder, which was developed from the surface of the Ijsselmeer sea. This three to five-story building offers two theater halls, a multipurpose hall, a restaurant, and a bar, covering an area of 7,000 m². The exterior shape of this visually striking building is composed of triangular surfaces. The faceted envelope made of perforated orange-colored metal is designed by architects from UN Studio to create a moiré effect or an effect similar to that of a kaleidoscope. The interior spaces are connected by a giant pink-painted staircase. The theater foyer is illuminated by an artistically shaped skylight.



The radiant design of UN Studio for the new theater in Lelystad
The new theater is part of the urban planning of the city center in Lelystad designed by the architectural office West 8. The theater plays an important role in this urban environment both during the day and at night. The grouping of cultural and social activities in this neighborhood of Lelystad gives it a clear cultural character. In this context, the theater serves as an important landmark with a decisive architectural expression. When walking from the main station, the theater's tower creates a surprising accent from a diagonal direction. At night, the building is illuminated and easily visible from the surroundings. During the day, the theater's shape resembles a giant sculpture. A large café is open even during the day, contributing to the lively atmosphere of the square. The vertical foyer threads throughout the entire building, connecting the various auditoriums and conference rooms on different floors. The typology of theaters has become increasingly complex over the years. UN Studio has sought to bring the complexity of multifunctional theater back into a flexible, transparent, and intelligent design. The clean and openly organized design will serve as a cultural icon for Lelystad. UN Studio has already worked on various projects where performing arts and new media played an important role in the program. Interaction between different artistic disciplines should be integrated right from the design phase of the project. The qualification of UN Studio lies in the analytical approach to these requirements.