Music Box

Composed of bold and boxy forms, the Contemporary Music Centre (SMAC) in France stands out as an architectural marvel with its dramatic contemporary design.

- Lily Wong

 An iconic masterpiece designed by Paris based Hérault Arnod architectes, the Contemporary Music Centre (SMAC) is a musical complex nestled at the corner of the Bel Ebat fairground, on the edge of the historic town centre of Evreux in France. Consisting of two auditoriums and recording studios, linked by a public space called the deck which runs from one side of the building to the other, the centre stands out as an architectural marvel with its dramatic contemporary design.

“This centre is designed on the principle that, instead of being mere consumers of entertainment, people can construct their own evening by moving from one place to the other,” remarks the architect. “The difficulty lies in the size relation between the