The Tilburg Dance and Music Academy (Factorium) at her new location will be part of a collection of public and special buildings in the Tilburg city centre. In addition the garden will become part of the collection of squares and parks in the inner city of Tilburg.
Hidden space The new location for the Factorium is ambiguous: on the one hand it is located in the centre near the City Hall and the public library and thus becomes part of the Tilburg art cluster, on the other hand it is hidden away on an inner area. The presentation towards the town of this dance and music academy and the interaction with the surrounding garden form the starting point for this design.
Music and dance are both housed in their own volume in a rectangular position towards each other. Between these blocks the foyer can be found that forms the intermediary factor between dance and music and between the great hall and the garden. The music wing consists of a long hallway with a view on the garden. In a rectangular position towards this hallway three ‘canyons’ are foreseen to which the music classrooms and some office functions connect. On the ground floor the foyer, several facility functions and music classrooms are located orientated towards the town. The many decibels producing POP-functions are located in the basement. In the dance wing the four dance studio’s present take a central position. Two studio’s are slightly rotated and surrounded by a cleverly designed system of curling stairways and footbridges. Where the music wing radiates an atmosphere of abstraction and repetition, the dance wing demonstrates drama and expression.
Garden under the trees The Factorium is in fact built around existing monumental trees. In the design of the garden these trees are the elements that determine the atmosphere. A wild wooded garden ‘under the trees’ that changes into a more wear-resistant section suitable for more intense use. A place for walking, resting, listening to music or just for day-dreaming or contemplation
