PLAtec in the Quai Branly museum, Paris
PLAtec-shaped plasterboard used to build Jean Nouvel's wall creation
The Claude Lévi-Strauss theater in the Quai Branly museum opens out onto the gardens in a dramatic flourish of green. The amphitheater type structure is designed to close into a completely intimate space looking down on the 140 m² theatrical stage. The tiered seating facing the stage accommodates up to 399 spectators, while a further 100 or so can be seated in the terraced steps enclosing the other three sides of the stage.
Acoustic performances complement architectural creation
Adjustable curtains, created by house artistic director Issey Miyake, alternate with the random contours of the walls, to insulate the space acoustically as well as visually. The acoustician and architect worked in close collaboration to define the rhythm of the protruding blocks and cavities in the walls in order to lend a richly unpredictable aspect to the material and ensure the level of performance required in terms of absorption, insulation and acoustic reverberations. In a final touch, the lighting effects on the curtains and walls were carefully engineered to create a unique atmosphere in the space, providing the perfect backdrop for the primary arts to inspire the imagination.
Photographer: Cédric Prat
Témoignage
Alain Fleury, works manager at DBS
"The differently sized protruding blocks and cavities on the walls are designed to reproduce a variety of frequencies. Their number, layout and orientation correspond to a strictly pre-defined scheme. PLAtec initially constructed prototypes in the form of 600x180cm panels which were installed on frames. As well as demonstrating compliance with the design requirements, the prototypes served as models during installation operations.
Installation was relatively simple, similar to plasterboard wall installation. We had to strictly follow the work drawings and the installation instructions for PLAtec panels on a 70mm double metal frame insulated with 85mm mineral wool. During construction of these inner partitions, we had to support loads every 2m and comply with the frame dimensional constraints between the cavities.
"The plasterboard panels supplied by PLAtec carry specific assembly instructions for the blocking system to be installed between the plasterboards prior to screw assembly and the specific plaster to be used to fill the joints. A green-colored primer, applied to overlap the edge of plasterboards, eliminates dust to improve the hold of the finishing plaster. We sanded the curved joints to improve the finishing.
"If the contractor had chosen to construct the inner partitions from wood, the budget would have been considerably overrun. With staff, there would have been no difference in the cost of materials, but installation costs would have increased significantly. One of the key advantages of PLAtec technology is that we were able to work with the same teams and scaffolding for the entire plasterwork package."
