Design and construction supervision by architect Ioulietta Zindrou
The design of the Auditorium is based on the conception of the space as a complex, though elegant “acoustic device”.
We crafted the space into a dynamic field through design innovations, technological applications and material processes in construction and management, towards an optimal passive acoustic space performance
Through advanced design, sound calculus and construction technology, algorithmic and material processes, a ceaseless dynamism between sculpturing and engineering emerged.
Conceptually the auditorium was conceived as a place of creation and offer of cultural experiences, and is inextricably linked to visually recognizable spatial stimuli and the concept of spatial identity.
The space provokes an upgraded human experience as an attractive meeting place to be remembered. A spatial atmosphere of unparalleled esthetics that evokes emotion, excitement and tranquility.
The project refers to the Renovation of the Auditorium inside the cylindrical historic gasholder building at the industrial museum and cultural park of Technopolis in Athens.
The design concept refers to the historical function of the industrial plant as a gasholder whose interior tank was “unfolding” supported by the still remaining sophisticated metallic pillars of the late 19thcentury.
The approach to the new internal “void” volume of the auditorium is that of a state-of-art cultural tank.
Hence, the auditorium is designated by the new interior folding and flowing topologies: the stage, the hollow and the ceiling, in the core of the historic tank.
The materials used evoke comfort.
And thus The topologies of flooring (natural oak) and hollow (black carpets and seats) are merged.
Our aspiration with the project “Technopolis Auditorium: an acoustic device” has been the establishment of the perception towards the civic necessity, the role that architecture can play towards this and the integration of the technology towards innovative, sustainable and elegantly built public environments.
During the study a set of architectural and functional gestures were designed new functional spaces around the core rearrangement of the stairs to disseminate spectators a significant rise of the stage to ensure optimal visual and acoustic comfort. and the decision to approach the ceiling as the main “facade” or view of the project the specificity at the function of a theater leaves little space for innovation as for the layout however the ceiling is the greatest opportunity for a design aesthetics and design performance the passive acoustics and the sound calculus has been of our main concern.
The geometry of the roof consists of absolute geometric schemas, the circle, the hexagon, the triangle, subject to symmetry, rhythm and harmony. The beauty of applied mathematics and three-dimensional geometry, generated a grandiose experience, especially when entering the space.
The roof strengthens passive acoustics through geometric sound-reflectors and sound-absorbers, oak surfaces, that form prismatic pyramid clusters.
It consists of 564 pieces belonging to typologies, sub-typologies and unique pieces, all customlly fabricated. The design provides the necessary volume-per-listener relationship through geometry and the balance between the reflective and sound-absorbing surfaces, providing a unique acoustic experience to the spectators.
The design and fabrication of the acoustic panels, produced and approved in Greece, have challenged the relation between architecture, engineering and the construction establishment, and thus challenged the construction economy.
A challenge to overcome has been the adaptation to the existing concrete shell. The very shape of the plan, circular and not the typical conic, challenged passive acoustics and the 7 existing large scale concrete structural pillars were creatively camouflaged and formed part of the spaces' acoustic behavior.
A characteristic architectural gesture is the rearrangement of the stairs to disseminate spectators and the significant rise of the stage to ensure optimal visual and acoustic comfort.
Technically the sage has been a big challenge because underneath are located the recording studios of the radio station that coexists the building
So specific sound absorbing solutions have been applied we conducted a geometrical research Even for the layout of the wooden stage floor
The stage background, a folded surface by acoustic panels, includes a hidden message: the distribution of the linear acoustic penetrations on the material is a coded timeline of the history of the industrial gas park, gives an even deeper architectonic perception and design opportunity.
Around the core of the amphitheater, two new discrete foyers were designed, integrating support functions, the entrance “green lobby” and the 1st floor conference “pink lobby».
A characteristic feature is the creation of vertical glazed holes between the foyer and the theater. This subtle architectural maneuver indicates the ability to perceive spaces holistically.
The design of the furniture we replicated the main shape of the roof piece for the sofas and the tables the same with the old and almost forgotten technic of the various different wooden veneer creating patterns.
The signalization of all spaces and the distribution guidelines to the hollow, with graphic elements, has been part of our architectonic design as other expressive means in the schematization and is a replica of the main quadrilateral shape emerged from the ceiling design.
Repetition in the service of the unrepeatable
This project is only just about an interior design of an auditorium, or a successful passive acoustic space. This project has been a successful application of the conception of space experience in public – cultural spaces.
It has been a series of creative metaphysical architectonic applied thoughts on the theater subject, from the ancient Greeks to the contemporaneity.
An amazing design journey through concepts and values.
The harvest of engaging deep concepts and values is a refined Doricism and that is what makes this project beautiful, innovative and beneficial
