Project StageThe project designs a flexible stage capable of staging and hosting various types of philosophical and political debates and entertainment events throughout the year at Melbournes University Square.

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1. The design stages performances of various natures. How can the design adapt flexibly and efficiently to the different requirements of the performances in terms of its form and users experience?

2. The qualities of the site resembles very much its surrounding, the university, which in many ways contradict the qualities of perfor-mances. Without altering the qualities of the site, how can the design enhance the experience of the audience at the site?

3. The site serves as an important commuting ground to many; however they rarely interact with the site despite their daily usage. How can the design attract the commuters to pause and experience the site without obstructing the commuting functions of the site?

DeSign agenDa

The design will investigate the relationship between linear geometries and performances by creating a series of typologies that each creates a different audience versus performance experience.

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Context

Elements

Project S

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Refin

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The height of the stage will determine the performer(s) visible crowd size and vice versa. The greater the visible crowd size, the more prominent the performer(s).

#1 Prominence

Functional elementS

High

Low

The interaction between the performer(s) and the audience is de-termined by the distance in between. The shorter the distance, the greater the intimacy.

#2 interactions

Observatory distance with a view of the bigger picture.

Personal interaction distance.

Very Far

Very Near

Group interaction distance.

Different performance nature requires different platform sizes. It should neither be in excess or insufficient.

#3 activity Spaces

Boundaries are passive elements that direct at-tention to the performance and exerts crowd control.

#4 Boundaries

Basic platform

Solo performance

Group performance

Active performance

Bounded space

#6 Human traffic

#7 Seclusion

Provoking the curiosity of commuters, the design should attract commut-ers to the stage but should not obstruct the commuting flow.

Performance screened from direct eyes provides privacy and provokes curiosity.

#5 Vehicle trafficDuring peak hours, the site is surrounded by heavy traffic. Areas closer to the street and unscreened by trees are highly affected by the noise.

Audience

Zone 1Noisy and Inactive

Zone 2Quiet with minimum activity.

Zone 3Noisy and active.

B

B

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context elements

#8 Space creating

#12 Views

#9 topographyThe stage down the slope accomodates a larger audience with a good view of the performance.

Views of audience and performer(s) should not be obstructed by others and/or structures.

Non-distracting and neutral background to prevent distraction.

#10 Background

View a

View B

#11 SunlightThe play between light and shadows can enhance or decrease the quality of performances.

connections on Paper

Stage typology

Extended parts of the design trace back and intersect at this end, forming the center of atten-tion of the stage.

View of the audience at the back are not obstructed by people or tall structures at the front.

Separated yet interactive platforms designed specifi-cally for debates.

Viewpoint

Performance Platform

Perfomer(s) - Audience View

X

X Center of attentionLandscape

The height provides landscape views of the Melbourne CBD skyline and the main entrance of the Univer-sity of Melbourne.

Scale TestingThe stage was tested against the human size in terms of the platforms accessibility and crowd size.

connectionS oF PaPer - PrototyPeSMaking Ground ConnectionsConnections from the platforms to the ground were added to connect the audience with the performance and to provide structural supports for the stage.

The Big PicturePlatforms with different sizes and connections were joined to-gether to test the proportion of the stage as a whole.

Absolute truth is a very rare and dangerous commodity... - Hunter S. Thompson

adaptable Hosting - Defined Space

Small Crowd

Hierarchical Staging

reFining connectionS

Very Superior

Least Superior

adaptable Hosting - continuous Space

Interactive

VisibilityDue to the stage flow and slope position, audiences movement entrancing and exiting can occur without disrupting the perfor-mances. The stage structure also enable multiple visual aids to accommodate a huge crowd.

Flexible Staging - recreational Space

Flexible Staging - the nightlife

nortH eleVation

Backstage entrance and platform. View from the bottom of the side, South-North, is obstructed to encourage audience to optimise the view down the slope, the North-South view. .

Audience

NSite Plan

1mm

: 75

0m

Audience

Zone 1Noisy and Inactive

Zone 2Quiet with minimum activity.

Zone 3Noisy and active.

Relative Human Traffic

Floor Plan

1mm : 200m

N

Increasing crowd size

X X

Y

Y

Section

1mm : 200m

elevation

Section X-X Section Y-Y

West Elevation

40400

All measurements are in mm.

8505

South Elevation

43200