1-1 | OPUS AGGREDI Typological Investigation Booklet opera | amphitheatre
1-1 | OPUS AGGREDI Typological Investigation Booklet opera | amphitheatre
1 | Pompeii Amphitheatre, Italy 2 | Cloud Tower, Austria 3 | Bosra Amphitheatre, Syria 4 | Stone Nest Amphitheatre, China 5 | Colosseum, Italy 6 | Jai Jagat, India 7 | El Jem, Tunisia 8 | Chicken Comb Amphitheatre, Indonesia
AMPHITHEATRE 01 | POMPEII AMPHITHEATRE, ITALY Constructed: 70 BC The amphitheatre at Pompeii is presumed to be the oldest amphitheatre in the world, with plans for its construction dating back to 80 BC. It is thought that the amphitheatre at Pompeii was used as a model for amphitheatre construction including the Colosseum in Rome. The performance space was constructed partly by utilising an existing dip in the landscape, and partly by digging even further down. This amphitheatre unusually does not have an underground section, with the steps up the slope the only access outside the building. The amphitheatre can hold up to 20,000 spectators, who are seated around the main performance space. The amphitheatre hosted gladiatorial games, circus shows and other performances.
Photographs of the Pompeii Amphitheatre
Map showing accessibility and circulation of the area surrounding the Pompeii Amphitheatre
Plan and section of the Pompeii Amphitheatre
AMPHITHEATRE 02 | CLOUD TOWER, AUSTRIA Constructed: 2007 The Cloud Tower amphitheatre was constructed as an outdoor perfomance space with the inclusion of a pavilion in the centre of a park in Grafenegg, Austria. The amphitheatre is mainly used in the summer, for classical music festivals. The amphitheatre can seat 1,700 people, on the landscaped banks that are orientated around the main stage. The stage roof has been designed to look like a sculpture, rising out of the ground. Finished off with a shiny metal, the roof reflects the surrounding landscape - hence, named the Cloud Tower.
Photographs of the Cloud Tower Amphitheatre
Map showing accessibility and circulation of the area surrounding the Cloud Tower Amphitheatre
Plan and section of the Cloud Tower Amphitheatre
AMPHITHEATRE 03 | BOSRA AMPHITHEATRE, SYRIA Constructed: 143 AD The amphitheatre of Bosra in Syria was greatly influenced by the Romans, which is shown in the ancient city’s most impressive feature (Roman Amphitheatre). The Romans designed the Bosra Amphitheatre in such a way that the whole audience can hear the actors without having to use any special equipment. The large area in front of the stage may have been used for gladiatorial matches or circuses. The theatre has seating for about 15,000 people.
Photographs of the Bosra Amphitheatre
Map showing accessibility and circulation of the area surrounding the Bosra Amphitheatre
Plan and section of the Bosra Amphitheatre
AMPHITHEATRE 04 | STONE NEST, CHINA Constructed: 2019 The Stone Nest Amphitheatre is located in what was a small-sized stone pit located in the Wujiatuan Village in the city of Weihai, China. The project sits within the stone, and is a kind of architecture within landscape. The Stone Nest amphitheatre is an open-air theatre, as a public field, that brings fresh vigor and new opportunities to the local community, being used as a public communication piazza for gatherings, musical and theatrical festivals.
Photographs of the Stone Nest Amphitheatre
Map showing accessibility and circulation of the area surrounding the Stone Nest Amphitheatre
Plan and section of the Stone Nest Amphitheatre
AMPHITHEATRE 05 | COLOSSEUM, ITALY Constructed: 80 AD The Flavian Amphitheatre in Rome is more commonly known as the Colosseum, and is an oval amphitheatre. The Colosseum is built of travertine limestone, tuff, and brick-faced concrete. When it was built, the Colosseum held 50,000 to 80,000 spectators and was the largest amphitheatre ever to be constructed. The amphitheatre was named after the three emperors who were involved in construction as they are known as the Flavian dynasty, and the amphitheatre was named in Latin for its association with their family name (Flavius).
Photographs of the Colosseum Amphitheatre
Map showing accessibility and circulation of the area surrounding the Colosseum Amphitheatre
Plan and section of the Colosseum Amphitheatre
AMPHITHEATRE 06 | JAI JAGAT, INDIA Construction: 2017 The Jai Jagat theatre was constructed as part of the celebration for the 100 years of Sabarmati Ashram - a community who live in the area. The 1500 children that today live or study at Sabarmati Ashram are still taught with the same philosophy. The amphitheatre is part of this education philosophy; providing students with an opportunity to practice performance skills, gain confidence, work in groups, and to have fun. Jai Jagat theatre is now the place where they practice their performances, do group exercises, or play games.
Photographs of the Jai Jagat Amphitheatre
Map showing accessibility and circulation of the area surrounding the Jai Jagat Amphitheatre
Plan and section of the Jai Jagat Amphitheatre
AMPHITHEATRE 07 | EL JEM, TUNISIA Constructed: 238 AD. The Amphitheatre of El Jem is an oval amphitheatre in the modernday city of El Djem, Tunisia. It has been listed by UNESCO since 1979 as a World Heritage Site. El Jem is one of the best preserved Roman stone ruins in the world, and is unique in Africa. It was built for spectator events, and it is one of the largest amphitheatres in the world. The estimated capacity is 35,000, and it is 148 metres by 122 metres. The amphitheatre was built out of stone blocks, located on a flat ground, and is exceptionally well conserved.
Photographs of the El Jem Amphitheatre
Map showing accessibility and circulation of the area surrounding the El Jem Amphitheatre
Plan and section of the El Jem Amphitheatre
AMPHITHEATRE 08 | CHICKEN COMB, INDONESIA Constructed: 2019 The village of Jengger (or chicken comb in bahasa) is located around seven hundreds metres above sea level in Indonesia. The Chicken Comb amphitheatre was constructed out of giant bamboo due to the quantities surrounding the area. Giant bamboo is large and has the strength to span the large performance space.
Photographs of the Chicken Comb Amphitheatre
Map showing accessibility and circulation of the area surrounding the Chicken Comb Amphitheatre
Plan and section of the Chicken Comb Amphitheatre
