Type: Theatre
Location: Berlin, Germany
Year: 2024
Credits: Douglas McCorkell (tutor), Richard Dundas (tutor)
A KALEIDOSCOPIC SYMPHONY
Every neighbourhood is a sum of its cultures. Some are mono-cultural, with one dominating heritage providing the character of a place. Others are multicultural, with different backgrounds of people throughout the area. Berlin’s neighbourhood Kreuzberg is a clear example of a multicultural neighbourhood containing cultures from across the globe. This multiculturalism is typically known as a “melting-pot” where a bunch of different cultures melt into one shared visual and communal identity. This doesn't quite apply to Kreuzberg though, as each culture is so heterarchically distinct within the architecture. Kreuzberg is instead a kaleidoscope. In Lawrence Fuchs book ”The American Kaleidoscope”, he uses a “kaleidoscope of cultures” as a metaphor for the voluntary multicultural pluralism within American history. This more accurately describes the distinct nature of these ethnicities within the architecture of Kreuzberg.
The building takes the German, and Turkish cultures (the two most prevalent in the area) and expresses them as two distinct strata: the convention, and the abstraction. The convention houses the solid elements stemming from the urban block: the recording studios, multi-function rooms, and back of house spaces. The abstraction houses the interstitial foyer space, sloping above the private plinth and into the kaleidoscope, the intersection of the two forms, housing the kaleidoscopic auditorium. The architecture reflects the two dominant cultures in Kreuzberg: German, and Turkish, with contrasting forms interweaving together like a symphony.
This theatre is for everyone, no matter the ethnicity, background, or taste in music. It will all be accommodated within the intersecting confines of the building, creating a kaleidoscopic symphony of culture and music.
This theatre is for everyone, no matter the ethnicity, background, or taste in music. It will all be accommodated within the intersecting confines of the building, creating a kaleidoscopic symphony of culture and music.
The Convention - Berlin
Berlin’s urban grid cutting through the historic diagonal Skalitzer Straße represents a vision of uniformity in the Hobrecht-Plan of 1862.
The Abstraction - Turkey
Istanbul’s abstracted city centre is a representation of there being no determinate plan, but instead an indeterminate development over time.
The Kaleidoscope
The intersection of the two plans creates a kaleidoscope, one that retains the distinct elements from each culture.
The Convention - Solid
In the architecture, the convention represents the solid. which becomes the back of house, residential, and studio spaces.
The Abstraction - Transparent
In the architecture, the abstraction represents the transparent which becomes the interstitial foyer space.
The Kaleidoscope - Translucent
In the architecture, the intersection of the convention and abstraction becomes the kaleidoscopic auditorium.
Recycled Site
The existing site houses a near dilapidated fire station. The key elements such as the concrete structure and cladding will be recycled into the proposals foundation and flooring. All of the existing tenements will remain due to their character, but be renovated to meet the standards of the rest of the block revitalisation.
Urban Corridor
The primary site lines stem from the road junction and train station. Leaving this broken space open allows a clear view to the frontage of the public building. The urban corridor also creates a linkage through the city block to extend the foyer to the exterior.
Complete the block
Based on the theatres position, the existing conventional tenements will distort into the abstracted public building.
The two ends of the convention will create a distant dialogue with each other, getting close to, but never directly touching.
Blend The Abstraction
The abstraction will merge and weave against the convention creating an interstitial foyer space which defines the public circulation. Multifaceted planes are used to bridge the two sides of the convention, expressing the migrational culture holding together the cultural fabric of Kreuzberg. Timber structure and glazing, as well as perforated flooring will exemplify this transparency and contrast to the more sculptural forms of the concrete cladded conventional spaces.
Kaleidoscopic Theatre
The kaleidoscopic auditorium will be form from the intersection of the convention and abstraction, becoming a bulb of light, transparent to view at all times, and shining as a beacon at night. The flexible nature of the auditorium will allow it to accommodate any music genre or performance, accommodating every culture in Kreuzberg.
Take over the block
The entirety of the urban block will be taken over to show it’s public presence at all angles, inviting pedestrians to locate the heart of the block: The Kaleidoscopic Symphony. The glass reinforced concrete panels will extend beyond the theatre, forming faceted fragments; a nod to the history of the previously broken block. Along with the resulting deconstructivist formations making up the building, these ‘shards of glass’ represent the history of the blocks deconstruction and the impact that has made on the urban fabric.
Raked seating for classical and orchestral music, as well as performing arts.
Tables and chairs can be brought from adjacent storage for conventions and more intimate performances.
Lower seating can be electronically lifted to allow for stage extensions or combination seating.
Bleacher seating pushes to rear of auditorium to allow for standing gigs.