Covering Carré des Arts, AgwA architecture and Ney&Partners engineers were commissioned to develop a membrane roof for a historical significant building known as Carré des Arts. This building is an exceptional military heritage building that often has occupants from the events run by the arts school Arts and the city and the regional cultural leader Le Manege in Mons (be) and Maubeuge (fr).1200 persons can be hosted in the space.
© Marie-Françoise Plissart
The design is to cover the largest open air courtyard in the city center with five large membrane vaults, which responds to the rhythm and arches of the buildings. If needed, the membranes can be completely removed without causing any harm to this historical building. This is done though the special structure that allows for fast and easy handling from the ground. The special structure that was designed also integrates all of the structural reinforcements in the thickness of the existing concrete structure.
Project info:
Architects: AgwA, Ney & Partners
Country: Belgium, Mons
Area: 3570 m²
Year: 2014
Photographs: Marie-Françoise Plissart
Structure: AgwA, Ney & Partners
Acoustics: Kahle Acoustics
Contractor: Lixon, Veldeman
Techniques: Studiebureau Boydens
Art Work: Jean-Luc Moerman
Client: Ministry of the French Community of Belgium
Membrane Roof: 1.600m²
Madeline Brooks is a Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she has been shaping and refining architectural content since March 2024. With over a decade of experience in editorial work, she has curated, revised, and published an array of projects covering architecture, urbanism, and public space design. A graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Madeline brings a strong academic foundation and a discerning editorial eye to each piece she oversees. Since joining Arch2O, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s editorial direction, with a focus on sustainability, social relevance, and cutting-edge design. Madeline excels at translating complex architectural ideas into clear, engaging stories that resonate with both industry professionals and general readers. She works closely with architects, designers, and global contributors to ensure every project is presented with clarity, depth, and compelling visual narrative. Her editorial leadership continues to elevate Arch2O’s role in global architectural dialogue.