PERFORMANCE DEPOT A-CREATIVE-ENGINE-FOR-CITY

Individual work

Studio E, 2021

Tutor: Peter Stasios

DESIGN BRIEF

Nowadays, performing arts has been evolving and diversified to meet a changing generation of audiences, the city craves a revolutionary upgrade of performance industries. Therefore, Performance Depot is a warehouse with rehearsal, production spaces for practitioners, and an immersive theatre that forges closer connections between performers and audience by immersing them in hyper-realistic stage-sets as if they are living and exploring in fiction.

THE OBSOLETE THEATRE

The site used to be the Palace Theatre, a traditional theatre as evident in its facade. Such identity is edified to represent the obsolete theatre, which is now converted into an urban plaza. The public stairs can be used as a stage for street artists and public gatherings.

In light of recalling the former theatrical identity, the new immersive theatre should challenge the obsolete theatre at the right angle, with a rotunda public foyer as a connecting node. The main entrance is covered by operable curtain-like aluminum claddings, used to make any industrial shed. The curtain-like concrete walls frame the entrance as a portal into a theatrical reality.

The

The interwoven floor tiles guide you towards the reception and two folded stairs, from which you have an all-round view of the art-deco, nostalgic grandeur. Following the stairs to the first floor is a public lounge. Walking straight through the rotunda is the reception and public lobby. Here audience can grab their costumes and change at the back.

Workplace And Leisure

Working spaces include co-working costume and stage-set workshops at the street corner, rehearsal and production spaces on lower floors. Through the historic fenestration and strip windows on the ground level, curious pedestrians are allowed opportunities to observe how stage sets and costumes are designed and crafted. The trapezoid tables are designed with flexible configurations for sharing. Right below the amphitheater is walk-in costume storage.

The Immersive Theatre

Three cubes of immersive theatre whose configuration can be rearranged for specific stage sets as required. The steel structure is designed to work with scaffoldings for installations.

During the day, the building appears as an industrial warehouse to be unveiled.

THE EPHEMERAL FACADE

At night, the proceeding immersive show would constantly cast vibrant lighting on the ephemeral skin, being enlivened as a fluid story maker, as an attractive, resilient creative engine for the city.