outdoor public theater
Purpose
The purpose of this project was to create a seasonal outdoor theater in Somerville, Massachusetts. The theater requirements included an easy way to assemble and disassemble the structure, a multi-purpose seating area with a capacity of at least 400 people, a main stage and an orchestra stand.
I took advantage of the temporal aspect of the building by making it very easy to assemble, allowing various layout configurations so that more possibilities could take place in this public area.
Attributes
Flexibility: designed with light yet strong materials, the outdoor market can be put up and taken down in a short amount of time.
Multi-purpose: I added a seating area that could be easily adjusted in different ways depending on the type of play or event. The stage's design consists of an open plan, which allows for multiple types of plays or ceremonies. The partially shaded tunnel is a space created for rest areas and dining. The tunnel can also be easily modified by moving its white panels around.
Spatial: people in the Northeast area want to be outside when the warm seasons arrive. Having experienced people's enjoyment of the weather change, it was crucial for me to provide a space for individuals to realize fun, outdoor activities.
Learnings:
I found this project challenging because it was a large, public space. Public spaces can be used by anyone in whatever way they want, which requires a design that allows freedom and variety of use. This being said, I created 8 user personas in order to come up with ways that different people could equally enjoy the public site. Creating personas also helped me avoid my own preferences and experiences of a public space. I also learned that temporary architecture can attach people's emotions to the particular season the structure belongs to.
