Paris studio K Architectures has created a permanent home for the Domaine de Bayssan Theatre near Béziers, France, which was informed by circus tents. 
Built on the Domaine de Bayssan estate near the town of Béziers in southern France, the permanent theatre replaced a circus tent that was erected on the site in 2006.
Top: K Architectures designed the theatre complex near Béziers. Above: the theatre (left), restaurant (centre) and ampitheatre (right) were all informed by "circus architecture"
K Architectures aimed to replicate this "circus architecture" with permanent structures for the theatre.
"The recent history of the place guided us," the studio told Dezeen. "A set of canvas tents had occupied the margins of the site for 10 years." The theatre is directly connected to a circular restaurant
"We were able to appreciate that this ephemeral and playful architecture integrated perfectly into the history," it continued.
"Its bohemian and whimsical spirit enchanted the estate. We have simply tried to reproduce its appearance and its soul through a permanent architecture."
Exterior cladding was designed to look like canvas folds. Photo is by Marc Dunile
The complex consists of three rounded venues that are each wrapped in distinctive timber cladding designed to resemble the canvas forms of circus tents.
"The volume of the envelope was sculpted to evoke the folds of stretched canvases," said the studi...