The earliest spaces used by man for the purpose of shelter were meeting places in their own right, where news was exchanged and cultural events took place. With the advent of human settlement, the need for special venues for assembly grew as an expression of community life. In nearly all cases, these buildings possessed a unique quality, whether as a result of their location or their formal design.
The multifunctional use of places of assembly that we know today existed in earlier times, too. The colonnaded stoa, an important element of Greek cities from the 4th to the 2nd centuries BC, was initially simply a covered meeting place. Later, shops and scriptoria were incorporated, as in the Stoa of Attalos in Athens. In Greek cities, buildings of this kind were symbols of communal life, and they were usually oriented to a public open space. In this way, they signified that the city belonged to everyone. Today, even if monumentality is less important in such buildings than an inviting gesture – the use of large areas of glazing, for instance – an interaction with the surrounding urban fabric is still a clear feature. A modern example of this act of integration is the City Hall in Ghent by Robbrecht en Daem and Marie-José van Hee. It has no fixed programme, but is used for markets and as a venue for many other events. Its powerful roof provides protection against the elements, covering a distinctive space that is without walls and, therefore, open to urban life.
In the Middle Ages, the centres of most European cities were dominated by important ecclesiastical buildings, a marketplace, guild and trade buildings and the civic hall. With the growing importance of the municipal councils that developed in the 12th and 13th centuries, a further token of authority emerged alongside the castle and church, namely the town hall. With the transition from feudal structures to democratic constitutions after the French Revolution, when citizens increasingly assumed control of government themselves, an ever greater diversity of buildings for cultural purposes manifested itself. Theatres, concert halls, libraries, etc. were places where people could congregate.
The range of uses and spatial programmes is immense. Structures of this kind express a desire to accommodate as many different functions as possible. The modern multipurpose centre also manifests itself in a variety of forms. In addition to being basic places of assembly, centres of this kind offer facilities such as libraries, spaces for music and exhibitions as well as areas for education. sports and leisure. If congresses and other events are foreseen, too, attracting visitors from further afield, a uniform building typology is even less likely. All these structures, however, are centres of gravity within their local or regional environment. The capacity of their spaces can be simply estimated according to floor area and the numbers of rows of seats. Zones that are not accessible to visitors, such as stage areas and ancillary rooms, are not included in these calculations.
The multifunctional use of places of assembly that we know today existed in earlier times, too. The colonnaded stoa, an important element of Greek cities from the 4th to the 2nd centuries BC, was initially simply a covered meeting place. Later, shops and scriptoria were incorporated, as in the Stoa of Attalos in Athens. In Greek cities, buildings of this kind were symbols of communal life, and they were usually oriented to a public open space. In this way, they signified that the city belonged to everyone. Today, even if monumentality is less important in such buildings than an inviting gesture – the use of large areas of glazing, for instance – an interaction with the surrounding urban fabric is still a clear feature. A modern example of this act of integration is the City Hall in Ghent by Robbrecht en Daem and Marie-José van Hee. It has no fixed programme, but is used for markets and as a venue for many other events. Its powerful roof provides protection against the elements, covering a distinctive space that is without walls and, therefore, open to urban life.
In the Middle Ages, the centres of most European cities were dominated by important ecclesiastical buildings, a marketplace, guild and trade buildings and the civic hall. With the growing importance of the municipal councils that developed in the 12th and 13th centuries, a further token of authority emerged alongside the castle and church, namely the town hall. With the transition from feudal structures to democratic constitutions after the French Revolution, when citizens increasingly assumed control of government themselves, an ever greater diversity of buildings for cultural purposes manifested itself. Theatres, concert halls, libraries, etc. were places where people could congregate.
The range of uses and spatial programmes is immense. Structures of this kind express a desire to accommodate as many different functions as possible. The modern multipurpose centre also manifests itself in a variety of forms. In addition to being basic places of assembly, centres of this kind offer facilities such as libraries, spaces for music and exhibitions as well as areas for education. sports and leisure. If congresses and other events are foreseen, too, attracting visitors from further afield, a uniform building typology is even less likely. All these structures, however, are centres of gravity within their local or regional environment. The capacity of their spaces can be simply estimated according to floor area and the numbers of rows of seats. Zones that are not accessible to visitors, such as stage areas and ancillary rooms, are not included in these calculations.