The new building – the cornerstone of the project and the face of the cultural hub within – is in perfect harmony with the architecture of the town centre.

The double sloping lines of the structures of yesteryear meet a contemporary archetype, dressed in dark purple slate and interrupted intermittently, depending on the needs of the programme, by volumes framing the landscape.

This type of plan, highly characteristic of the town of Gournay-en-Bray, becomes a thread linking old and new, a free reinterpretation, and a statement in favour of craft and style. The building includes a ground floor (multimedia library and dance school), a partial first floor (music school) and a partial basement (technical premises) which can be accessed from the outside.

With its views onto the garden, it is the only building open to the public. Designed as an H in the centre of the plot, it links the two main bodies in the centre. The body of the Maison des Associations (Local Clubs and Activities Centre) is an extension of the existing structure which lends its truss as a point of connection. The glass-panelled hall presents a generous space for exhibitions. It also serves as a “gateway", to oversee access to various activities.

The multimedia library is organized around a journey through life. The adult area is close to the entrance and the deeper visitors venture into the building the closer they get to the children's areas. The woodwork suggests almost cathedral-like volumes, with a soothing light flooding the reading rooms. The first floor is entirely given over to teaching music. The teaching rooms have been designed around an inner passageway, with an urban feel.

The dance school is located at the end of the left wing, in its corner. It settles into the main building with delicacy and elegance. The same architectural language as the main building or the signal building is preserved, that is to say, a deep purple slate covering and cladding, metal grid shutters and wide windows, referencing the building’s wide prows. These openings in the facade and roof ensures the dance rooms remain well-lit while protecting them from outside eyes.