the speaking land theatre
The Speaking Land – Nomadic Landscape Forum.
This design project was set within the context of a larger investigation of how we engage with our place in our landscape. It was the design of a nomadic forum space as an aid for engagement with the landscape. The brief was set with a theater space as its main component and gallery and media spaces as secondary. The project was part of the field masters unit 06/07 at the Dundee School of Architecture led by Kathryn Findlay.
The center was designed as both nomadic and kinetic. The ability to re-site the center within the landscape solved some of the problems of any building for landscape interpretation i.e. an over emphasis and occupation of a particular part of the landscape. It was designed as a system to allow it to both develop and move meeting changing needs and reflecting the ever changing nature of the landscape in which it was set.
The basic premise of the field of columns developed both out of a pragmatic approach (of small components providing the best solution for transport and flexibilty) and from an aesthetic point of view: The field of columns does not sit as a cleanly defined object in the landscape but as a cloud like structure which can be easily penetrated. The buildings presence is blurred and views through and out are constantly framed and re-framed as someone moves through the field.
Both the fabric walls and roof have been detailed to allow for rapid deployment and adjustment allowing users of the building to quickly alter it even during the process of a theatric performance to meet different needs and to create different effects.
The building also includes some cabin like elements these allow for more permanent fitments to be moved from site to site (e.g. toilets blocks do not need to be re-assembled). They also provide more environmentally stable conditions suitable for long term inhabitation such as an office and dressing room space and also greater security for electrical and I.T. systems.
awesome work!!! very inviting presentation.