most circular theatre of the world!

We designed a remarkable expansion for Theater De Lievekamp in Oss: the new main auditorium is formed by the relocated Zuiderstrandtheater from Scheveningen, while the existing main auditorium will become a smaller hall. A playful new façade ties everything together. In May, we will find out whether the Oss city council is as enthusiastic about our design as the mayor and aldermen are. And whether Oss will put itself on the map with the world's most circular theatre.

reuse
Projects like this are rare. A theatre and cultural centre are already inspiring building types, and this one also involves large-scale reuse. In a team of experts from cepezedinterieur, cepezedprojects, Nelissen, Aronsohn, Lagemaat, PBTA, and Lichtconsult, cepezed created the design. The result will be a stunning building featuring a large auditorium (900 seats), a mid-sized hall (350 seats), a small studio theatre (100 seats), foyers, offices, studios, workshops, and a state-of-the-art back-of-house. More importantly, it will be a theatre with a unique story—one that belongs to Oss.

dismantling
Through a housing development project commissioned by Lister Buildings, cepezed became involved in the plans for Raadhuislaan in Oss. Lister offered its plot to accommodate the new theatre, allowing De Lievekamp to remain open during construction. As a result, cepezed’s involvement expanded from residential design to an urban development plan, including a larger theatre. Coincidentally, at the same time, lcp-circulair (a joint venture between cepezedprojects and Lagemaat) was working on a tender for the Municipality of The Hague for the dismantling of the Zuiderstrandtheater. Could this be an opportunity for De Lievekamp?

sustainability ambitions
The idea of having lcp-circulair dismantle the Zuiderstrandtheater and rebuild it in Oss as the new main auditorium of De Lievekamp has been met with enthusiasm by all involved institutions and the municipality. The existing main hall will become a mid-sized auditorium, and just like in the current setup, the theatre will form 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, this project is a natural next step in an ongoing journey—from the small, circular pavilion The Green House in Utrecht to the fully demountable Temporary Court of Amsterdam, and now, a truly circular theatre.
a thoughtful transformation
At cepezed, we believe that transformation and reuse should always take precedence over new construction. From our previous circular projects, we have learned that a relocated building best retains the function for which it was originally designed. This approach minimises material waste. However, the Zuiderstrandtheater will not be rebuilt one-to-one. The main auditorium has been adapted to suit its intended use in Oss. The former stairwell now serves as an atrium, creating a visually striking foyer. Additionally, some structural modifications have been made to enhance functionality in the new setting, such as repositioning wind bracing.

an indoor street as a buffer
A bright, new space between the former Zuiderstrandtheater and the existing De Lievekamp auditorium will serve as an internal street, offering visitors a clear overview of the building. Extending from the main entrance, this area will house the cloakroom and provide access to the mid-sized auditorium. The internal street will also act as a sound buffer while accommodating the mismatched materials, structures, and floor heights inherent to circular construction. During the build, it will function as a safety buffer, allowing the current auditorium to remain in use while the new main auditorium is constructed, and vice versa when renovations begin on the existing space.
a next-level puzzle
Architectural design is always a puzzle, especially for complex buildings like theatres, where backstage and public routes must never intersect, where there is space for theatre technology, and where the building must be visually appealing both when empty and when full. Opting for a circular approach adds an extra layer of complexity, as reused components must be integrated as completely as possible to ensure minimal environmental impact. Instead of starting with a blank page, the design process becomes an exercise in recognising the aesthetic and structural potential of existing components.
high usability
This type of challenge is exactly what cepezed excels at. Whether designing a new build, a transformation, or a circular project, functionality always comes first. Oss will receive a true cepezed design: architecture with a high level of detail, a well-balanced spatial composition, abundant daylight, efficient use of space, and an aesthetic driven by these choices. The theatre's footprint has been kept compact, leaving room for an attractive public space around the building.

a theatrical façade
The new façade will exude more of a theatrical atmosphere than the current one. The recessed glass plinth will offer passers-by a glimpse of the activity inside. Above, perforated aluminium panels will wrap around the building, their vertical pleats reminiscent of stage curtains. In certain areas, such as the foyer of the small studio theatre, this ‘curtain’ is strategically ‘drawn aside.’ Behind the concave vertical panels, perforations will ensure ample outward visibility.

Upward-facing lighting at the base of the pleats will further accentuate the theatrical character of the façade. This will make one of the building’s many stories immediately visible from a distance. And once inside, there will be countless more stories to discover—just as one would expect from a theatre and cultural centre. It should come as no surprise that the team is eager to bring this design to life.