La Seine Musicale Explained

La Seine Musicale
Building Type:Culture and leisure
Architectural Style:High-tech
Structural System:Steel superstructure with reinforced concrete floors
Location:Île Seguin, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Architect:Shigeru Ban and
Seating Capacity:1,150 (Patrick-Devedjian Auditorium)
4,000–6,000 (Grande Seine)

La Seine Musicale is a music and performing arts center located on Île Seguin an island on the Seine river between Boulogne-Billancourt and Sèvres, in the western suburbs of Paris, France.

Events

La Seine Musicale was inaugurated on 22 April 2017 with a concert by, accompanied by the Accentus choir, conducted by Laurence Equilbey at the Patrick Devedjian Auditorium.[1] During inauguration week a day earlier, American folk rock singer Bob Dylan was the first recording artist to hold a concert at the venue, for which he chose to perform at the 6,000-seat Grand Seine.[2] On 8 December 2018, the venue hosted the final draw of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.[3]

On 19 December 2021 the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021 was hosted on the Grande Seine, the biggest venue in the complex. It was the first time that France has hosted the contest, as well as the first Eurovision event to be hosted in the country since Eurovision Young Dancers 1999 in Lyon.[4]

Construction and facilities

In July 2009, the lead coordinating architect for the project was named as Jean Nouvel;[5] although individual buildings have subsequently been commissioned from a range of international architectural practices. The initial complex of buildings on the island opened in April 2017 and were designed by the architectural team of Shigeru Ban and .

The facilities include an elevated egg-shaped theater-in-the-round mostly for classical music, a larger concert hall that hosts pop stars, rehearsal rooms for musicians (Riffx Studios), seminar rooms, a press center, restaurants and an extensive roof garden. Much of the site's daytime energy needs are supplied by a large mobile curved solar panel array that covers the smaller auditorium. From the fourth floor, there is an all-round view of the surroundings.

Seating capacity for the unamplified Patrick-Devedjian Auditorium is 1,150. The larger modular concert hall, Grande Seine, at a lower elevation on the island site, is able to accommodate audiences of up to 6,000.[6] [7] [8] [9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: La musique s'arrime sur l'île Seguin. April 21, 2017. Le Monde. 20 May 2021.
  2. Web site: Bob Dylan, The Avener et The Shoes: la Seine musicale ouvre en grande pompe. LEFIGARO. 20 May 2021.
  3. Web site: Le Calendrier du Mondial 2019 Dévoilé . FFF . 8 February 2018.
  4. Web site:
    1. Imagine: Junior Eurovision set for Paris
    . 2021-05-20. 2021-05-20. eurovision.tv.
  5. News: Life after Renault: Ile Seguin to become Paris culture hub. Davies. Lizzie. 2009-07-08. The Guardian. 2009-08-24.
    News: Jean Nouvel to build arts complex on derelict island in Seine. Palk. Susannah. 2010-10-14. CNN. 2010-10-14.
  6. Guillaume Guérin (Photographer). Shigeru BAN & Jean de Gastines - La Seine Musicale. Archilovers, April 21, 2017
  7. Thorpe. Harriet. Photography: Blossier. Laurent. Powered by solar panels, La Seine Musicale is a new icon for Paris. Wallpaper*. 12 May 2017. 12 June 2017.
  8. Lynn Chaya, Laurent Blossier (Photographer). 'la seine musicale' by shigeru ban and jean de gastines opens in western paris. designboom, May 15, 2017
  9. Patrick Devedjian. La Seine Musicale / Shigeru Ban Architects. ArchDaily, 28 June 2017