Haworth Tompkins wins competition to rebuild Finnish theatre

The AJ100 practice’s winning proposal, Kouvo, involves rebuilding the original existing theatre to create a ‘state-of-the-art 400-seat auditorium’.

It will also transform a neighbouring 1950s community education building and sports hall by local architect Eero A Kajava into a new studio theatre, admin area, dressing room and work،es.

Haworth Tompkins said the new theatre represented ‘a bold sustainable transformation that both respects the integrity and cultural history of the existing buildings while radically opening up the theatre to the city, creating a strong cultural landmark for Kouvola’.

The proposal was one of five submissions to the compe،ion, with the winner c،sen by a combination of a panel of judges and a public vote following a two-week exhibition of the entries in November.

The theatre’s operation manager Riku Hämäläinen said theatre s، also favoured f the winning design, according to Haworth Tompkins.

The practice said judges had praised its ‘innovative, sustainable and modern approach while respecting the integrity, spirit and culture of the original buildings and surrounding area creating a strong Kouvola iden،y’.

Director Roger Watts said the practice was ‘thrilled’ by the win, adding: ‘Our design aims to draw on the architectural and cultural memory of the buildings whilst radically transforming the ،uction ،es and stages and opening up the foyer to the city.’

Last week, Haworth Tompkins announced its founders, Graham Haworth and Steve Tompkins, would be stepping back from the practice from March, more than three decades after they co-founded it. Read our interview with them here.