Built Expressions Bangalore :: Agora Theatre, Leystad, Netherland

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Agora Theatre, Leys tad, Netherland

Agora Theatre, a visual enchantment

The Dutch province of Flevoland occupies an area that only 60 years ago formed part of the Zuider Zee. Large sections of this bay in the North Sea have been drained and many new towns have been created on the reclaimed land, including Lelystad in 1967. But a large area of Lelystad remains undeveloped and as part of development the Agora theatre project commenced. The theatre’s design was conceptualized by UN Studio with the collaboration of Netherland’s based architects B+M. The architects have designed a multi-colored light crystal with a complexly folded exterior envelope that incorporates the fly tower. The design of the theatre explores the integration of theatre arts and new media into sculptural form. The building’s envelope is composed of an overlapping multi-faceted surface that, because of perforations, creates a moiré or kaleidoscopic effect. Internally the vertical foyer and its grand staircase is designed as an element that carves through the center of the building’s volume, clearly delineating trajectories and orientation with the interconnecting theatres and congress halls. The Theatre Agora is situated in the centre of the Dutch city of Lelystad, a post-war municipality north-east of Amsterdam, whose once lack lustre city centre is being redeveloped.

Design

The new theatre design is a part of the Master plan for the city center of Leystad, designed by them. The theatre plays an important role during the day as well as during the night in this area of the city. The clustering of cultural and social activities in this new quarter will give Lelystad an outspoken cultural face. In this context, the design for the theatre forms an important orientation point with a forthright architectonical look. Walking from the central station the theatre-tower forms a striking accent in the diagonal view. At night the volume illuminates, and is easily traceable from the different parking facilities. During the day, the shape of the theatre projects a sculptural effect. The grand café, also open during the day, connects to the evening square. From the different lobbies of the entrance of the theatre a beautiful view of the Green Care is presented. The vertical foyer, which swings through the entire building, connects different theatre and congress halls on the different floors. The typology of the theatre has become more and more complex during the years.

Perforated Plates

The façade is the most attractive part of this fascinating structure, which is made of smooth metal plates, profiled sheeting with standing seams and perforated plates, shifts in color from red to orange to yellow. The orange cladding extends to the entrance area, where the color scheme changes to hot pink and white. The main staircase encloses a large vertical space leading to the two upper levels of the narrowing foyer, which is illuminated during the day by the generous roof glazing. The dynamic feel of the interior space is enhanced by numerous inclined planes.The 750 seats and the wall and ceiling surfaces of the large theatre space present themselves in a luminous red. The technical areas are integrated in such a way that they cannot be seen from the stalls or the dress circle.

Construction & Materials

The Netherland’s famous architects B+M, collaborated on the construction of the 30,000m³ and 7,000m² building, which consists of two theatres, dressing rooms, a number of interlinked and separated foyers, a large vertical entrance foyer, a café and a restaurant, and a stage tower. The outer envelope is made of flat steel panels, corrugated aluminum, and aluminum mesh painted orange and yellow, using materials provided by Hafkon (aluminum cladding) and Van Dool Geveltechniek (façades). The 19m-high stage tower services both theatres, and rises up from the building giving it prominence in the cityscape. The largest theatre hall holds 753 seats, fully upholstered in tufted nylon to enhance the acoustics, and features a horseshoe-shaped seating balcony in the auditorium and an orchestra pit with a capacity of 60 musicians. The stage of the main hall is 195m² and the backstage area 500m². It is regarded as unusual for a city of this size (population 72,000) to house such a large theatre – but it was thought necessary to attract international troupes and world-class acts to Lelystad. The interior walls of the large theatre are red, lined with acoustic paneling of a concave / convex formation in various shapes and colors, which serves not only as a visual interest but was found by Dutch acoustics designers DMGR to also benefit the sound in the auditorium. The smaller theatre hall, which is set at a maximum distance away from the main hall for acoustic reasons, seats 207 people, with an 81m² stage areas and a 135m² backstage areas. The small theatre also has an adjoining party area of 225m².

The entrance foyer extends vertically over two levels with a view through the sloping glass window both out to the city and the sky. The staircase connecting the floors features a wide handrail that descends ribbon-like down the flights of stairs, then wraps half way around the foyer on level one before extending up the wall to the ceiling, changing in color from violet to crimson, cherry pink and white. Considered by the designer as one of the primary highlights of the space, Van Berkel’s intention was to give theatre patrons the sensation of being connected to the architecture of the building as they grip the pink handrail. Both the interior walls of the foyer and theatres and the external façade were created to give a kaleidoscopic impression – one of looking out and into an ever-changing world. As such, the building protrudes in various directions, with all façades having sharp angles and jutting planes, which are covered by steel plates and glass layered in shades of orange and yellow.

Interiors

Inside, the colorfulness of the outside increases in intensity; a handrail executed as a snaking pink ribbon cascades down the main staircase, winds itself all around the void at the centre of the large, open foyer space on the first floor and then extends up the wall towards the roof, optically changing color all the while from violet, crimson and cherry to almost white. The main theatre is all in red. Unusually for a town of this size, the stage is very big, enabling the staging of large, international productions. The intimate dimensions of the auditorium itself are emphasized by the horseshoe shaped balcony and by the vibrant forms and shades of the acoustic paneling.

In contrast to the main auditorium, the smaller theatre (with 250 seats) on the second floor has the feel of a studio. Immediately adjacent to it are three multi-functional spaces, so that smaller conventions can take place on the upper storey. Over the entrance of the theatre lies the artists’ foyer, where the actors can view their audience through an inclined glass facade before the performance begins.

Theatre Lighting

Lighting designers Arup of Amsterdam focused on the themes of transition, movement and metamorphosis in their lighting design. On the external walls, lights are built into the façade embalming the building in a warm glow at night time. During the day, the triangular skylights allow natural light into the foyer. In the hour leading up to performances, the artificial lighting in the foyer is pale yellow, which changes shortly to an intense colored light shortly before the act begins. Light falling on the various surfaces suggest constantly-changing colors and forms. The color schemes are inspired by photographs of the sky taken around sunset and in daytime.

Considering the design perspective of the theatre, it is an extremely colorful, determinedly upbeat structure conceptualized by the architect. The typology of the theatre is fascinating in itself and it feels the specificity of architecture is not itself contained in any aspect of the object. The true nature of architecture is found in the interaction between the architect, the object and the public.

-Arun …………………………….

Box Item

Project name: Theatre Agora

Location: Agorabaan 12, 8224 JS Lelystad, Netherlands

Coordinates: 52°30’44N 05°28’31E

Type: Theatre and Auditorium

Program: Theatre with two halls and a multifunctional space, restaurant and bar

Site Area: 2.925 m² and expedition area

Building area: 7000 m2

Seats: Large theater hall: 725; Small theater hall: 200

Volume: 30000m³

Project Year: 2005-2007