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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Pavilion 21 MINI Opera Space in Munich, Germany by Coop Himmelb(l)auJuly 5th, 2011 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Coop Himmelb(l)au
Concept The task which we had to solve with our design was to create a space with 300 seats (or 700 standing spectators) for experimental performances of the Bavarian State Opera. The Pavilion should be dismountable, transportable and re-mountable and make the respective urban space distinctive through its shape.  Night View (Images Courtesy Duccio Malgamba)
 Night View (Images Courtesy Duccio Malgamba)
Chronology:
Project data:
Technical description Light installation:
 Exterior View (Images Courtesy Duccio Malgamba) Mass and therefore weight are the decisive criteria for good acoustics. The conception of the Pavilion 21 MINI Opera Space therefore had to overcome a contradiction: to design a lightweight construction which must allow to be dis- and re-assembled quickly, but which at the same time meets the acoustical requirements of a concert hall. Hence how do we create the conditions for good acoustics despite a reduction of mass? Already the first considerations fixed in drawings show the basic concept of the Pavilion to introduce elements which are on the one hand the spatial transformation of sound sequences, and which on the other hand develop sound reflecting and absorbing properties through their pyramid-like shape: “Soundscaping”.
 Exterior View (Images Courtesy Duccio Malgamba) The idea to combine architecture with music is not new. Also the term soundscaping is not new. Similar to landscaping it involves “Gestalt”. Soundscaping originates in the 1940’s and designates a method of composing. In architecture, Le Corbusier and Iannis Xenakis together engaged in the topic of music and architecture when they thought about three-dimensional implementation of musical compositions (Le Corbusier’s Philips Pavilion and the partition of the windows in La Tourette). Our strategy to achieve soundscaping comprises three steps: Firstly, to realize the shielding effect between square and street, secondly, to shape the geometry of the Pavilion in such a way that the surface deflects noise, and thirdly, to design the surface of the Pavilion in such a way that it reflects and absorbs sound. As a starting point towards the abstraction of music into spatial form, a sequence from the song “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix and a passage from “Don Giovanni” by Mozart were transcribed. Through the analysis of frequence sections from these pieces of music and through the combination with the computer generated 3D model, the sequences are translated into pyramidal “spike constructions” by means of parametric “scripting”.  Interior View (Images Courtesy Duccio Malgamba) In order to implement the objectives of the interior spatial acoustics, the interior wall and ceiling surfaces were fitted with a combination of perforated absorbing and smooth reflecting sandwich panels. The flooring of the Pavilion is carried out as a reflecting even “stage floor”. Sound reflecting, parallel wall and ceiling surfaces are avoided and are therefore tilted or skewed. The development of the acoustical elements was carried out together with the acoustics department of Arup; the applied construction and materials were worked out with Frener & Reifer. Light Installation The architectural design of the inner space is complimented and enhanced by an installation in the lounge developed by cat-x. The complex multiple projection not only illuminates the interior of the lounge, but changes the perception of the space, so that the architecture seems to move. The oscillating movements interact with the sound coming from the Opera Pavilion and react to the current performances. Thereby the content – the music – is transported from the auditorium to the lounge, mapping audio “inside out”. According to the formal strategy of the architectural concept – the transformation of the spectral information of an audio signal as basic element of the form – is translated into a real-time concept for the design of the projections.  Exterior View (Images Courtesy Duccio Malgamba ) Space is transformed into sound, sound is turned into light and light (re- and dis)forms the structure, thus creating an abstracted mini opera feedback space. The edges of the architectural structure are emphasized by brighter projections. To enhance the contrast, the illuminatoin between them is reduced. A minimalistic color- and sound flow covers the surfaces; the spectral information abstracted from the current audio signal flows into these spaces.
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Category: Opera House |
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