UMBRELLA
Ragdale Ring 2013 Proposal
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Alex Coulombe, Dan King, Ian Nicholson, Morgan Shaw, and Danton Spina
Statement Under the Umbrellas Imagine the approach: emerging through trees
A moment’s reflection, and you realize this
around the side of the historic house, the long
entire world is constructed of only three com-
view of an idyllic prairie beckons you to move
ponents: pallets, crates, and umbrellas. You’ve
forward. As you do, a curious wooden structure
seen them all before, but never in a collective
peeks out from behind a prominent tree. As you
language.
draw nearer, this structure’s intention becomes apparent: it is a portal, calling you to pass un-
You take your seat under the umbrellas, and
derneath its span. You pass through the gateway
after a brief final gaze out the wall opening into
and you’ve entered a space that is a world unto
the setting sun, the house lights have gone down
itself.
and the performers come on-stage. It’s four musicians; some kind of string ensemble. The
A larger wooden structure draws your eye.
two violinists assume their perch on the wall
Two high walls open to you, welcoming you to
openings, and the other two set up in the front.
an inner sanctum housing a simple stage and
When they begin, the acoustics of the wooden
made whimsical by an undulating, scaly canopy.
space reverberate warmly, as the engrossing
The scales cast textured shadows on the grass
sound of the contrapuntal violins transport you
beneath and the backdrop to the stage is a
into another world entirely, one of pure music.
verdantly planted vertical wall. The walls of the
Umbrella
Ragdale Ring 2013 Proposal
structure have apertures, and hung in the open-
This is one of many experiences made possible
ings are wooden lanterns that glow in the spaces
by Umbrella. Poetry is made intimate by the
like fireflies in jars on a summer night.
enclosure. Plays are made vivid by the greenery.
Statement 01
The lighting lends everything an over-arching
given away, sold, or otherwise re-cycled to their
Umbrella is easily construct-able, dismantle-
sense of theatricality and wonderment. The
original purpose. The planted pallets will be re-
able, and reuse-able. The utilized site is in the
space is both adaptable and substantial; the au-
installed as permanent vertical gardens, or sold
shape of an arc segment, providing lines of sight
dience never feels like they’re merely in a field
as small-scale greenery, allowing individuals to
for the whole audience and recalling the radial
watching a show, but enveloped in an artistic
take home a living piece of the Summer 2013
nature of the original Ring while functioning as
experience.
Ragdale experience. Even the lighting will be
a segmented macrocosm of its umbrella name-
cordless, autonomous, and re-usable anywhere.
sake.
Opposite the stage area is a row of gallery walls. These provide an additional venue to display
The exposed wood of the pallets and crates that
artists’ small-scale work and allow for rich col-
are reachable by the occupants will be sanded
laborations of art and performance. Lush, green
smooth, allowing a tactile experience. The linear
vertical surfaces provide the entire design with
patterns created by the slats will be natural
a lived-in quality, further reinforcing its connec-
light filters and shelves on which to hang any
tion to nature.
adornments the artists might see fit. Art will be displayed in crates embedded in pallets. The
Not only does Umbrella provide a dynamic and
lighting of the project will be accomplished by
flexible space to showcase and experience live
battery-operated fixtures integrated into the
art, but it’s component construction allows
crates and umbrella canopy, evoking the Japa-
for its constituent elements to be eventually
nese lanterns of the first performance in the
separated and re-used. All of the crates, pal-
original Ring.
lets, and umbrellas will be left intact, able to be
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Ragdale Ring 2013 Proposal
Statement 02
Budget
Walls
Canopy
Plantings
DESCRIPTION
QTY
PRICE
SUBTOTAL
Wooden Pallets – 4’x4’
235
$18.00
$4,230.00
Wooden Crates
520
$9.25
$4,810.00
Lighting – Lanterns
40
$7.00
$280.00
Foundation – Concrete Blocks
108
$1.25
$135.00
Umbrellas
115
$5.00
$575.00
Structure – Support Poles
25
$25.62
$640.50
Structure – Swivel Clamps
115
$4.39
$504.85
Lighting – Spotlights
2
$45.00
$90.00
Soil – Soil to Fill 23 Pallets
185 cubic ft
$2.64
$488.40
Plants – Plants to Cover Surface of 23 Pallets
368
$1.00
$368.00
5% Hardware and Tools
$606.09
5% Contingency
$606.09
Subtotal
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Ragdale Ring 2013 Proposal
$13,333.93
Budget 01
Donated Materials
DESCRIPTION
QTY
PRICE
SUBTOTAL
Wooden Pallets – 1/3 Donated
78
-$18.00
-$1,404.00
Wooden Crates – 1/3 Donated
178
-$9.25
-$1.646.50
Lanterns – 1/3 Donated
13
-$7.00
-$91.00
Concrete Blocks – 1/3 Donated
36
-$1.25
-$45.00
Umbrellas – 1/3 Donated
38
-$5.00
-$190.00
Thrifty Subtotal
Re-sold Materials
Wooden Pallets – 1/3 Re-sold
78
-$9.00
-$702.00
Wooden Crates – 1/3 Re-sold
178
-$4.63
-$823.25
Lanterns – 1/3 Re-sold
13
-$3.50
-$45.50
Umbrellas – 1/3 Re-sold
38
-$2.50
-$95.00
Pallet Gardens – 1/3 Re-sold or Auctioned
23
-$50.00
-$1,150.00
Ultimate Total
Umbrella
$10,002.43
Ragdale Ring 2013 Proposal
$8,336.68
Budget 02
Team Alex Coulombe Warehouse Architecture Theater (WhAT) was originally conceived and established at Syracuse University in 2006 by team members Alex Coulombe, Ian Nicholson, and Danton Spina. As a student organization housed in the School of Architecture, WhAT provided for the exploration of the overlapping conceptual territories of theater and architecture. It continues in a professional setting to be an organization that aims to harness interdisciplinary design strategies to create transmedia theatrical productions. The WhAT team operates as a distributed network, linked by more than 5 years of collaboration and intimate knowledge of each member’s individual strengths.
Umbrella
Ragdale Ring 2013 Proposal
Alex Coulombe brings to the team a strong interest in theatre, interactive spectacle, and renovation. His SU Architeture thesis, Scopic Operations in Military Theatre, explored manners by which to employ spectacle that actively engages a typically passive audience, and was awarded a re-presentation at Super Jury. Following experience working at Rafael ViĂąoly Architects and Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects, Alex is currently employed with Fisher Dachs Associates in New York City as a designer and consultant for new and renovated theatres. He also maintains his involvement in live theater, having recently overseen the production of one of his trans-media plays in Brooklyn under the auspices of WhAT.
Daniel King Dan King holds a Bachelors degree from Syracuse University, with a Physics major and an Architecture minor. From structural analysis to solar technology, his studies were constantly engaged with the overlap between the two fields. Both independently and in collaboration with several members of this team, Dan has designed and published board games and multiple interactive projects. Most recently he collaborated with Alex Coulombe on a theatrical projection that changes with the action of the play, thereby freeing the actors from the usual timing demands of multimedia theater.
More at www.alexcoulombe.com
Team 01
Ian Nicholson He earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree, magna cum laude with honors, from the Syracuse University School of Architecture. During his time at Eight Inc., Ian focused on using smart design and emerging technologies to encourage customer interaction in retail environments. He has also gained design experience during time at Zimmerman Workshop in Brooklyn, NY and as a fellow at Lightroom Studio in Decatur, GA. Ian has previously exhibited his painting work at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.
Morgan Shaw Morgan Shaw received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Syracuse University, graduating magna cum laude. He was an early and active member of WhAT during his time there. During his semester of study abroad in Florence, Italy, he won a competition to design a temporary outdoor installation using 100 copper pipes in the courtyard of Florentine architect Andrea Ponsi’s home and studio. He and a team of fellow students constructed his proposal as an event space for a School of Architecture reception. Morgan currently works as a freelance architectural and graphic designer in Philadelphia.
Danton Spina Danton Spina received his B.Arch at Syracuse University with a thesis that redefined the transition between a public streetscape and a private theater venue in Philadelphia’s South Street neighborhood. He exhibited work as part of the Syracuse Re-Dedication Exhibition. A co-founder of WhAT, Spina produced numerous theatrical shows while at Syracuse, including a full-scale musical that he had written himself. Following a year as an Adjunct Professor at Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades and a stint at GTM Architects in Bethesda, MD, Danton is currently pursuing an MS in Architecture at California Polytechnic State University, where his thesis is concerned with applying theatrical concepts to urban planning.
More at www.dantonspina.com
Umbrella
Ragdale Ring 2013 Proposal
Team 02
Proposal View Looking East
Section
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Ragdale Ring 2013 Proposal
Proposal 01
Proposal Site
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Ragdale Ring 2013 Proposal
Proposal 02
Proposal Project Components Components
Assemblies
Pallet Wall Wooden Pallet
A Gallery Wall D
Pallet Wall Edge
E
B Bench C
Pallet Wall Crate Inset
B
C Crate Lantern Wooden Crate
D Crate Cornice A
F Clamp Detail E Umbrella Array
F Umbrella Lantern
Umbrella
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Ragdale Ring 2013 Proposal
Proposal 03
Proposal Nighttime Theater
Daytime Theater
Covered Seating for 50 Seating Area for 150 Event Space for 300
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Ragdale Ring 2013 Proposal
View through Wall Opening
Crate Lanterns
Proposal 04
Proposal View Looking South
Ground Plan
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Ragdale Ring 2013 Proposal
Roof Plan
Proposal 05
Proposal Gallery Wall
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Proposal 06
Proposal View Looking West
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Ragdale Ring 2013 Proposal
Proposal 07
Sun Study Click on the image at right to launch a video sun study of the Umbrella project proposal. Click here to view it online.
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Ragdale Ring 2013 Proposal
Proposal 08