Arts center nOna

The new hall is now a multifunctional concrete box of which the concrete facade is engraved with N O N A, obviously denoting to the name of the arts center, but also reminiscing about the former printing business of the site. The theatre hall is constructed according to the box-in-a-box concept to meet the acoustic requirements of the building. The new building at the street side visualizes nOna and serves as a gate to the inner area. The new building connects the new site with the existing theatre hall. Arts center nOna interacts with the city through the glass facade. LED screens display the programming of the arts center, animate the street and invite passers-by.

In terms of sustainability, efforts were made at various levels. nOna is for instance the first building in the Benelux to be built in ‘green’ (or circular) concrete and old printing plates of the former printing business were reused for the finishing of the sanitary walls. The search for densification of the urban site creates new sustainable connections in the city. The network of medieval alleys was restored and increases the accessibility of the large building block. 

During the 20-year building process, the focus was on participation and sustainable collaborations were made with the neighbours, the city, non-profit organizations and schools. Various meetings with the neighbours resulted in pleasant site work and volunteering. Non-profit organization Onbetaalbaar put a spotlight on every staff member through the creation of QR codes that tell their memories of the building process. During the building process photographer Kaat Pype also took pictures which were exhibited. Onbetaalbaar also set up a social employment project that resulted in unique door handles.