Design of The Theater

Concept and Early Design

After all of the findings and analysis, I decide my concept to relate the existing environment with my design. Since, i choose my site exactly under the story bridge, i try to relate my feelings underneath the bridge and the shape of theater.

From the left elevation of the story bridge, I aware that the shape of the cliff and the bridge (The yellow area which i marked) are having an angle that giving me the essence of an opened shell.

My research in the seating plan of general open air theater are also have a shape of shell (The green area). That is the reason that i choose that my basic shape will be a shell.

Seashell is used as a protective layer. And also it has various functions and even it used for cultural function in some tribes.

After relating the concept, the function, and the shape. I got an idea of making an open theater which imitate the shape of a shell, and combining the existing elements with the technology.

I tried to make 2 models of open air theater. The first one is an open theater with no cover on top of it, and the second is having the cover above the seating plan. However, i am still not satisfied with this design and i will try to combine both design into my new design, and take my early design as findings.

Technology Research

After my research on open air research, i decide to do more research in the technology which they use, such as: lighting, projection, and the water fountain show. In my point of view, these three techniques are important to support the show, and help the audience to feel the atmosphere which we want them to experience. These are my research about each technology.

1. 3D Projection

Instead of using an ordinary projection, i try to find another projection that can give people stronger feeling to what we want them to experience using projection. When I browse through the internet trying to find some suitable projection, I found a projection technique using 3D projection on the building. It gives the 3D effect as we are inside the atmosphere. I decide to use this technology and install it into my building design. I have a link to a video which will explain about how the 3D projection work on a building:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0XKmU5hF5s&feature=player_embedded

2. Water Fountain Show

When i did some researches in the site, i found that the water in Brisbane river is the natural elements that can be used for the interesting part of my design. However i did not want the water elements to be a passive elements which just act as background but i want it to participate in the show. When i did some open air theater research, i found that the water fountain show in the song of the sea theater is really attractive, and useful in order to create many effects to support the show. The fountain is combined with the lighting and create some colorful water fountain that can be used for the show. I have a link to a video about the water fountain show in the Singapore:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFYJ8L6GRmQ&feature=related

3. Lighting Show

Lighting is the most crucial thing that always used in every theater`s show. The lighting technique will support the show by giving different color that will influence the emotion of the audience. And even the we can play with the focus of the light in order to let the audience concentrate in the spot which we want them to concentrate in.

I will used these 3 technologies and put it into my design, since all of these technologies can support the show effectively and will create an amazing show.

Open Air Theater Research

When I so some observation about the site i found that there are some natural elements and wide space which can be used. The beauty of the cliff, and the Brisbane river are the main natural elements which are beneficial to be used, and also the story bridge which has its unique characteristic. However, it is really unfortunate that it just used as car park.

When i do some observations in the site, i saw many people come to visit the site which under the bridge and mainly all of them stop under the bridge and observe the bridge. It is giving me an idea to build a place where people can seat, rest, and enjoy the story bridge. However, i want to add an entertainment center where people can distribute their talent while enjoy the view of story bridge. This is the reason why i want to build an open air theatre.

Before designing an open air theatre, i try to do some researches about theatre from various places, and try to understand the concept and structure of each theater.

1. Regent`s Park Theatre

Regent`s Park theater location is in London. It is a big open theater which locate near green area. They used the green area as their background. The most important thing that i learn from this theater is the seating plan and rooms which needed for open air theater.

2. Prambanan Open Air Theater

Prambanan Open Air Theater located in Indonesia. This theater is used for showing traditional dance from Indonesia. I learn about seating plan which used mountain rock as their material and they use Prambanan temple as their background. They using building near it as they advantages.

3. Hammamet Open Air Theater

Hammamet Open Air Theater located in Tunisia, It was an old theater which only used for small ceremony. What i learn from this open theater is the shape of the seating plan which is radial to maximize the sound distribution.

4. Petras Open Air Theater

Petras Open Air Theater is located in Greek. The open air actually is only the seating. The stage is located inside the room. What i learn from this theater is the technology which used to support the atmosphere of the drama using lighting.

5. Vondlepark Open Air Theater

Vondelpark theater is located in Amsterdam. The seating of the theater is located on the outside of the stage, and the stage is covered by roof to create some lighting effect. What i learn from this theater is the shape of the stage which is unique.

6.Royal Open Air Theater

Royal Open Air Theater is located in Winton. This open theater is not a live showing theater. It only showed movie in projector. The seating of the theater is located outside the stage. What i learn from this theater is actually the used of the projector to create an atmospehere of a place.

7. Minack Open Air Theater

Minack Open Air Theater is located in England. It is actually made from ruin, and using the scenery of the sea and the ruin as its background. What i learn from this theater is the usage of natural elements as the background.

8. Song of The Sea Theater

Song of The Sea Theater is located in Singapore. It well known of the lighting effect which also use water fountain as they background effect. The theater is also used natural elements such as the sea and beach as its background. What i learn from this theater is the fountain technology which can be used to support the drama.

From all of the research, i conclude that it is important to combine natural elements, technology, and the existing structure.

Materials and Textures of Story Bridge

In this week, the group is divided into several teams. Each of us do some researches about story bridge much deeper. My group has to do some research in textures and materials of the story bridge. First, we decide to group the materials and textures into 3 parts, which are site, buildings, and story bridge materials and texture. Instead of just mentioning the materials and textures, we did deeper researches about the feeling which created by the materials and textures.

1. Site Materials and Textures

For the site, the materials and textures were combined by natural and artificial

materials.

Some natural materials are bushes, trees, water, rocks, and sky. And

the

artificial materials are steel, concrete, plastic, and PVC. Some materials have the

same

essence and some are different. However, we tried to group them as their

characteristic.

2. Buildings Materials and Textures

Around the site, there are some buildings with different materials. Some using woods as

materials and some using steel. Even the techniques of installation are also various.The materials can be the same, but if the technique of installation is different, it will create different impression.

3. Story Bridge Textures and Materials

The main materials and textures of story bridge are mainly concrete, and steel. Using concrete as foundation will give us the essence of supporting and strength, and using steel as the joint and structure will give us the essence of security. However, the steel structure are too complicated, because of this, the essence of security can turn into the essence of entrapment.

To conclude,All elements are the main thing that create the story bridge, and all essences of materials are the main thing that create the atmosphere around the story bridge.

Folie

When i was gave this assignment, i realize that story bridge has a history before it was created. After the class, i tried to find some data about the story bridge, and i found some history about Australia, the story bridge main material which are concrete and steel, and also the steel structure of the bridge. The materials and the structure of the bridge give me the essence of being trapped and endurance. Then i found that the Australian history relate with the essence of material from the story bridge. It gives me an idea of folie which i will make. Then, i tried to explore the story bridge site. Since, i was told to use digital media in order to influence my feeling toward story bridge`s environment, i used my iPhone and heard an instrumental music called "Akatsuki no Kuruma". I heard this music while observing the environment. Suddenly, I stopped at a place, which is exactly under the story bridge.

In this spot, I got my emotion synchronize with the surrounding. Actually my song is telling a story about a struggle of people to achieve freedom in a war, and somehow, the place is not only represent my emotion but also support it in relation of the song which i heard. Then, i try to find the elements which can support my feeling. Then, i tried to do some site analysis.

When i summarize my findings from the site, i realize that the elements which support my feelings are the wind direction, sun direction, material of the bridge, and the essence of line from the bridge. All of these elements create an "image" (concept) which is the same as the "image" which was created by the music that i listen to. After, i found the "image", i compared it to the history which i found, and i found that the history of Australia is also support my "image".

From the "image" that i found, i tried to create the shape for my folie. Then, i decide to create a folie which will attract people to see what i see, and let other people to experience my emotion which i got from the music by playing the instrumental music which i heard. The folie is made from mirror and aluminum. I choose these materials not only to let the sun reflect to under the bridge and attract people, but also the mirror give a reflection of the people who see it. It similar to do self-introspection . So that, people will experience what my emotion, and the folie itself will become a memorial of people in Australia to remember their history.