IMAGE FORUM

Initiated by CASA, the Sophia Antipolis Agglomeration Community, this competition aimed to create a connection between the former town hall, now transformed into a screening room called “Le Pavillon Bleu,” and the media library by creating a new building housing a 300-seat cinema. The task was complex, as the two existing buildings served the same cultural purpose but had distinct architectural styles and were neither parallel nor at the same level. Additionally, the project’s central location in the village of Roquefort-lesPins required that the future cinema and live theater have a tiled roof to comply with local aesthetics.

To address these challenges, the agency proposed the design of a single-story connecting volume in the shape of a T, topped with a rooftop terrace. This solution ensured the new cinema’s four-sided roof did not clash with the other two buildings. The connecting volume, housing the image forum, played a pivotal role in linking the two cinemas and the media library while also serving as the primary entrance to the future cultural complex known as the Pôle Image Communautaire. By doubling the surface area of this space and making it accessible on three sides, the agency enabled seamless pedestrian movement throughout the village, turning it into a central and essential feature of their project.

A glass canopy extending over the western entrance area brings in natural light in front of the existing cinema, which has undergone a complete 180-degree transformation, now opening into the image forum. The interiors are adorned with a warm color palette, adding vibrancy to the walls of these spaces. On the exterior, the primary hall volume has been enveloped by a slender colonnade on two sides. At the same time, its previously plain walls now serve as supports for fullheight signage, highlighting the purpose of the venue. The architectural choices are traditional, featuring a tiled roof, two rows of eaves, lime plaster for the facades, and gray aluminum joinery like the existing media library, ensuring the seamless integration of the new cinema into its surroundings.