IAD, an architecture firm formally known as Independent Architectural Diplomacy, are responsible for the design of the National Theater of Equatorial Guinea. Located in one of the smallest countries in middle Africa, in the city of Oyala, this design seeks to represent Guinean culture while expressing and softening the complicated socio-economic hierarchy of the country.
The shape and form of the building is inspired by the waxing and waning moon as well as the intangible likes of Debussy’s Clair de Lune. With a form consisting of smooth and ever-changing geometry, the building develops an iconic and recognizable language that can be appreciated by all who visit.
courtesy of IAD
The sweeping planes and sensuous curves capture warm light for the various programs inside the center, yet give the building a consistent unified quality on the exterior. The building is designed to host various types of events simultaneously. The transparent curve of the building dictates the front of the theater, defining an open urban space that connects to open inhabitable sites for the visitors. The rest of the building contains a public entrance, main hall, auditorium, and stage. To the back of the building is a green embankment that invites the public to find their resonance in the landscape, providing a refreshing balance of nature to the structural building.
courtesy of IAD
Courtesy of IAD