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Theatreplan Proud to be Associated with President's Award for Genexis at Fusionopolis in Singapore
The innovative technical designs provided by Theatreplan for seating and rigging systems helped Arup and Singaporean Architects WOHA achieve the high honour of ‘Design of the Year' for their work on the Genexis Theatre at Fusionopolis in Singapore.
Currently in its fourth year, the award honours Singapore designers and exceptional designs that are innovative and improve the lives of local and global communities. The award was presented by S.R. Nathan, President of Singapore. Genexis is designed with a flexible stage as well as audience space, which have given it an edge over other theatres in the city. It has made provisions for a retractable seating unit along with multiple rigging and lighting arrangements, so the performance area can be a conventional stage, or used in a flat-floor open arrangement. The spaces here can be used for experimental performances, exhibition, lectures or private events.
At the start of the project, Theatreplan was presented with an unusual egg-shaped shell with every surface curved. The award commented on the practical difficulties of the venue and the design excellence employed to overcome its restrictions."The design of the Genexis Theatre rises to the challenge of an extremely difficult site, and succeeds through a wonderfully cohesive amalgamation of highly technical solutions and innovative design. The result is a composite work of art and technology that transcends the site, and raises the bar for architectural and audio-visual system design for a performing arts venue."
Theatreplan's Neil Morton planned the auditorium design and sightlines, and devised an ingenious seating arrangement on retractable platforms that can be moved in any direction and rearranged for a wide variety of events and performances. The judges noted in their citation: "The theatre's unique features include 560 adjustable seats that are retractable to create a thrust stage, and yet moveable multi-directionally."
John Whitaker, a partner at Theatreplan, was faced with some unusual problems when designing appropriate rigging and suspension to suit the curved walls and ceilings. It took a combination of curved tracks and shaped tormentors and borders to match the contours of the space. Owing to structural loading restrictions, the number of motorised suspension sets was limited to just 20, but by mounting them on rolling beams Theatreplan was able to maximise their potential usage. The versatility of the space is also enhanced by the addition of a full tensioned-wire grid across the auditorium, offering technicians easy and safe access to the lighting positions.
The Jury particularly commended "the strong integration of technical and sensory design delivered with panache in an extremely challenging space, thereby giving meaning to fusion in Fusionopolis".
22nd January 2010
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