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Multimedia Centre in Armentières by Béal & Blanckaert
Belgian photographer Julien Lanoo has sent us his pictures of a library wrapped in metallic panels in Armentières, France, designed by French architects Béal & Blanckaert.
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Called Multimedia Centre in Armentières, the project consists of a glazed ground floor and faceted, metallic second storey.
![](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2009/12/dzn_Beal-Blankaert-Mediatheque211.jpg)
The interior is clad in wood.
![](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2009/12/dzn_Beal-Blankaert-Mediatheque271.jpg)
Photographs are by Julien Lanoo.
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Here's some text from the architects:
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The Multimedia Centre in Armentières, France
Béal and Blanckaert, architects
The new Media Centre provides the city of Armentieres with a performant tool with regard to reading and new cultural media for the benefit of the public.
![](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2009/12/dzn_Beal-Blankaert-Mediatheque221.jpg)
It fosters the urban reorganization and structuring of the area of the station.
![](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2009/12/dzn_Beal-Blankaert-Mediatheque251.jpg)
This is one of the events of eminent importance that transcend an architectural act of the beginning of the XXI century.
![](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2009/12/dzn_Beal-Blankaert-Mediatheque101.jpg)
The architects Béal and Blanckaert do not dissociate these three terms: culture, urbanity and architecture are in their view the major actors of the city.
![](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2009/12/dzn_Beal-Blankaert-Mediatheque051.jpg)
Through the use of unifying materials, shining stainless steel in the roof and in façades and the wood in the interior underground of the buildings, and a strong formal presence, the architectural writing of Béal and Blanckaert is stated in terms of “narration” and expressionism convenient to a formal interpretation as opposed to every austerity that is too theoretical.
![](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2009/12/dzn_Beal-Blankaert-Mediatheque071.jpg)
In a city composed of very closed islets, the Media Centre lets discern the interior gardens from the surrounding streets.
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