Description

The rake of the auditorium seating follows the slope of the hillside, cited by the architects as reminiscent of ancient amphitheatres' use of natural hillsides for seating. The central auditorium has retractable seating and a distinctive timber roof.

Noisy activities such as percussion and amplified music are located on the lower level, insulated from the quieter activities by dense blockwork and concrete floor construction. The entrance is also roof lit, bright and welcoming, with an informal meeting area to one side and a concierge office to the other.

Entry into the auditorium is from a lobby from this area which also leads to a recording booth at the upper level of the auditorium. A mature Holm Oak very close to the site formed the main axis of the building and has become the focal point of an outdoor space by the main entrance.

The superstructure, roof decks, main roof covering, ceilings, floors and windows are all made of timber obtained from renewable sources. The auditorium achieves a reverberation time of 1.7 seconds. It is well insulated from surrounding construction through structural isolation of floor slabs and the insulation of external air paths with low-resistance sound attenuators.