Auditorium to be relocated from the Hague to Oss in the Netherlands

Tenderstream member cepezed are creating ‘the most circular theatre in the world’ – at least in terms of the idea of large-scale reuse and circular construction techniques. The practice has designed an expansion for the Theatre De Lievekamp in Oss, The Netherlands, which includes a new main auditorium taken and assembled from a theatre scheduled for demolition in the Hague. 

cepezed became involved in the project through designs for a housing development in the area, during which their role expanded from residential design to an urban development plan that included a larger theatre. Coincidentally, a joint venture between cepezedprojects and Lagemaat was engaged on a tender to dismantle the Zuiderstrandtheater in the Hague. The idea to rebuild this theatre in Oss has been met with enthusiasm by the various institutions and municipalities involved. 

The existing main hall will become a mid-sized auditorium, with the overall theatre forming a single cultural centre. The plan aligns with the sustainability ambitions of the Municipality of Oss and the social commitment of both the theatre and cultural centre. For cepezed’s architects, the project is a natural next step in an ongoing journey — from small, circular pavilion The Green House in Utrecht to the fully demountable Temporary Court of Amsterdam, and now, a truly circular theatre.

The Zuiderstrandtheater will be adapted to suit its intended use in Oss, with a former stairwell now serving as an atrium to create a visually striking foyer. Additionally, some structural modifications wil be made to enhance functionality in the new setting, such as repositioning wind bracing. The entire project will create a 900-seat auditorium, a mid-sized hall with 350 seats, a small studio theatre with a capacity of 100 seats, foyers, offices, studios, workshops, and a state-of-the-art back-of-house. This May, Oss city council will give their verdict on the design. 

Lucy Nordberg

Tenderstream Head of Research

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