Structural: Lavergne Draward & Associates Lighting Design: Ambiances Lighting + Visual Design Project Manager: Greenseed Development: Mark Penner Metal Fabricator: Central Prairie Products: Melvin Kleinsasser Project Area: 784 sqft Project Year: 2010 Photographs: 5468796 Architecture Inc. Awards: Architectural Review: Emerging Architecture Awards 2010 Key Materials: cast in place concrete agilia, custom aluminum extrusions
"The Cube" is an open-air performance venue set against the backdrop of historic warehouses in Winnipeg’s Exchange District. The design commission gained through an invited competition, recognizes that the stage typically functions as such during a very limited time season, and questioned what opportunities the venue could provide during the rest of the year. In its final rendition the stage is articulated as a multi-functional environment that shifts from a vibrant performance space to an ephemeral, glowing,interactive pavilion and focal point.
The outer shell of the stage is a dynamic membrane composed of diamond extrusions strung together to form a flexible curtain that draws back to reveal stage and structure within. The retracted skin in turn becomes a draped and undulating ceiling landscape providing a backdrop for performance and allowing adjustments to the stage’s acoustics. When closed, the angled diamond pieces capture and refract light or images to their outer surface, creating a unique pixel matrix. Programmable lighting shines onto the pixelated skin offering a canvas for interactive displays - seasonally programmed and available for active engagements by local artists. The Stage in its closed position also accommodates small gatherings and exhibitions inside.
Innovation: An important objective for the project was to provide a secure screen which could be opened and shut for various programming. The challenge was to create a unique meshwork, that would be “soft” enough to drape open, and rigid enough to provide a solid barrier. Early prototypes were developed that examined chain-mail as a precedent - a flexible protective membrane that could form the venue’s envelope.
