The city council of Parma in Italy has spent two decades looking fora suitable design for a music theatre in the inner city. None of the manyplans submitted have been adopted. The present scheme seeks in its carefulinsertion of the music theatre, to effect an interplay of architectural,urban and landscaping elements. By the same token the historic city mustcontinue functioning through a subtle symbiosis of old and new.

The auditorium of the introverted theatre is sited in the inner courtyardof the palace of La Pilotta. Escalators and aerial walkways slicing throughthe existing windows link the auditorium with the foyer set in a wing ofthe palace.

The design weds the palace more fully to its surroundings by improvingthe setting on various counts. A belvedere is to rise on the side to theRiver Parma that relates to the spaces of appearance created in and alongthe river-bed. Interventions in the courtyard on the centreward side ensureLa Pilotta's position in and alignment to the city.

Place of education: TU Delft
Tutors: Pi de Bruijn, Willem Hermans, Clemens Steenbergen & Rogier Verbeek
Specialization: architectuur / architecture