Imagine a concert hall that is also a giant musical instrument. That is Le M\u00e9taphone. It stands on the site of the former 9-9 bis mines of Dourges in Oignies. It is not in Lille.
Le M\u00e9taphone is a unique venue. It combines a performance space with an urban musical instrument. Its facades produce and broadcast sounds. These sounds are linked to light displays.
The hall is mainly for contemporary and popular music. It can host 500 seated or 1,000 standing/seated. Le M\u00e9taphone aims to welcome artists of all levels. This includes local, semi-professional, and international acts.
Concerts are not the only activity here. Le M\u00e9taphone also hosts stage coaching and artist residencies. These activities make it a vibrant musical hub.
H\u00e9rault Arnod Architectes designed Le M\u00e9taphone. Musician and sound designer Louis Dandrel of IRCAM worked on the musical facades. Ducks sc\u00e9no handled the hall’s scenography.
What makes Le M\u00e9taphone special? Its walls can produce sounds. Twenty-four wooden panels are on the east facade. These have glass and steel scales. They vibrate using a special speaker system. This system amplifies sounds from the control room. It uses the sound conduction properties of solid materials.
There is more. A dozen instruments sit on the west terrace and porch. These include marimbas, cymbals, drums, a gong, and even an organ. They connect to the control room. A computer system using MIDI protocols operates them.
Artists can apply to create works for Le M\u00e9taphone. The goal is to make it sound at regular intervals throughout the day. It will become a modern carillon. Alexandre L\u00e9vy and Benjamin Collier have created about fifteen compositions. These play from 9 AM to 8 PM.
Le M\u00e9taphone is part of a larger project. It aims to revitalize the Nord-Pas-de-Calais mining basin. The construction took two and a half years. The building is 53 meters long. Its widest part is 30 meters. The narrowest backstage area is 16 meters. The main part is 12 meters high. The awning reaches 14 meters.
Seven hundred twelve panels make up the facade. Three hundred eleven are on each side. Ninety are on the north facade. The panels use various materials. These include Corten steel, larch plywood, clear glass, and opal glass.
Le M\u00e9taphone opened in June 2013. The opening celebrations lasted several days. In 2019, over 20,000 people visited Le M\u00e9taphone. More than 42,000 participated in its projects.
Future plans include renovating the “Machines” buildings. This will allow individual visits starting in 2024. Rehearsal studios, a recording studio, a dance floor, an auditorium, and offices have opened. These are in the renovated former “showers.”
Le M\u00e9taphone continues to evolve. It offers a blend of music, architecture, and history. It is a unique destination for artists and audiences alike.