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missed, when we consume culture from our laptops or living rooms, was serendipity – those moments of casual and delightful encounter that so enrich an excursion, providing moments of social improvisation. Tere is nothing improvisatory about – and little spontaneity in – a scheduled zoom call, whether it is for bingo or a book group.
When you venture out into the world to enjoy live culture and meet fellow arts lovers, you have no idea who you might see, nor how you will feel about what you are listening to or looking at. You have to maintain openness and curiosity. And all of those enriching, connective moments of the journey, including the movement through and around the interior or exterior landscapes, play a crucial part in why we enjoy going out. It is a means of flexing and toning social and intellectual muscles that are crucial to our sense of community and identity in a way that no Microsoft Teams appointment or street WhatsApp event ever could be. Cristina Seilern, director of Studio Seilern Architects, says: ‘Performing arts spaces, and the act of going to see a live show is akin to taking time out of your routine to be transported to a more abstract space where time is suspended for a bit and your thoughts are transported, challenged or expanded. I would say that it is a near necessity, a moment when you are cut off from the constant buzz of the daily routine, and can share an experience with others.’
intimacy for performers, so those of all ages and levels of experience will not feel overwhelmed. Balcony fronts and walls are contoured in pale wood to optimise acoustics but also create a refined, crafted aesthetic of carved timber, complementing the warmth of the rich, red upholstery. The entrance to the building features a large, curving glass facade that opens onto a broad lobby space with workshops and rooms beyond. This multi-purpose area is intended for informal exhibitions and events, for impromptu performances, creative teaching and cultural gatherings, and its large glazed façade speaks of connection and openness onto the wider campus, whose thoughtful landscaping and planting create yet another area for casual and creative congregation.
Client Wellington College, Berkshire
Architects Studio Seilern Architects Area 3,512 sq m Completion 2018 Theatre Consultant Ducks Sceno Theatre consultants Charcoalblue
Landscape Design Todd Longstaffe-Gowan
Acoustic Consultants Bickerdike Allen Partners Contractor BESIX
Awards Best Building in Education at the World Architecture Festival 2019
Seilern knows well the value of these performance spaces to a community. As director of Rafael Viñoly’s London office, she worked on the hugely successful Curve Teatre, Leicester. And since setting up her own practice in 2006, she has built on that experience – infused with her own passion for live music – to create two remarkable performance spaces that are very much in line with current and future trends, in that they conjure up a sense of immersion in nature and enrich connections with their wider audiences. One is set within woodland for a small private school in Berkshire and the other is a world-class concert hall in the Swiss Alps, offering views of snow-capped mountains and clear or night skies through windows during performances.
Top left Studio Seilern were inspired by ancient Greek ampitheatres, but also wanted to create a sense of intimacy for performers
Far left The entrance to the building features a large, curving glass facade that opens onto the broad lobby
Left The exterior has also been thoughtfully landscaped to encourage casual yet creative congregating
Te return to live performance is imperative, says Seilern: ‘Our acousticians are currently overwhelmed with work as venues are reopening and retuning. Te pull of live arts is too strong, and neither pandemics nor social media will be able to threaten our fundamental need as humans to gather and share.’ She adds that there have also been gains thanks to the most forward-thinking venues’ willingness to enrich their offer with online performances. She concludes: ‘I believe that social media is opening our eyes to art forms that we may not have come across casually. It certainly makes me want to attend events that I did not previously know existed.’
LEFT AND BOTTOM RIGHT: KANIPAK PHOTOGRAPHY
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