Genexis Theatre by Arup

INTRODUCTION

Arup, leaders in global design, engineering and business consultancy renowned for its genius association with innovative architecture and iconic building has played an integral role in establishing The Genexis Theatre as a global and spectacular landmark in performance venues.

Genexis Theatre Foyer

The experimental theatre is equipped with cutting edge technology and facilities to support multimedia-based performances that integrate science, technology and the arts. Genexis breaks many of the traditional rules of theatre design in terms of access, acoustics and its spherical shape. Architecturally, the theatre is suspended between the translucent-blue tower blocks on a single structural column that appears to float over the Fusionopolis podium.

 The challenge in the construction of Genexis Theatre was for Arup’s consultants to remain alive to the latest technological developments, while maintaining respect for theatre culture. They have created a performance space that is highly useable in spite of, and perhaps even because of, its design restraints.   “Our job was to help realise the Fusionopolis vision shared by the owner, JTC, and the architect, Dr Kisho Kurokawa: to make it a vibrant place receptive to outside trends, rather than inwardly focussed. This small theatre is a vital element of the concept, because it’s important that a complex like this attracts visitors from outside. Fusionopolis will attract theatre people and patrons, who, rather like bees, will cross-pollinate with new ideas,” said Andrew Nicol, project director, Arup

 “Arup is particularly oriented towards a human approach, so our involvement was a perfect fit. What’s also remarkable, from our point of view, is the convergence of so many of Arup’s niche skills – structural steel refinement, specialist theatre consulting and acoustics, tailored fire engineering, interactive lighting design. All in this one complex.”

The project ran from 2004 through to 2008 and Arup people from all points of the globe worked together on the project.

1) Environmental issue

With the focus on the future, Arup’s consultants used the most advanced concepts, materials and technology to make the complex more cost-efficient and energy-efficient, safer, more functional and more appealing both inside and out.

Award-winning architects WOHA, responding to Arup’s brief, created a notional square inside the interior of the outer, ovoid, shell. With its flat floor, a fixed flat stage, retractable seating that moves into varied configurations and two side seating towers, the performance space can be set up for “in the round”, promenade, “end stage” and “thrust” configurations.  “Only the floor is flat, all the rest is curved,” Mr Nicol said.  The theatre’s curved walls are sensuously covered with panels composed of hundreds of thousands of small wooden beads.  By making the notional square of the theatre interior completely transparent, Arup was able to minimise the use of unnecessary material in the space by keeping the theatre transparent and respecting the ovoid shape of the brain.

Two of the most extraordinary design aspects of this complex hidden from view:

• Economical use of structural steel. The complex’s plans originally called for more steel, but this amount was reduced by one-fifth, thanks to the design refinements worked out by Arup. Along with cost reduction and a reduced environmental impact came benefits in speed and simplicity of construction and material procurement, without any downside for the building’s structural stability or functional performance.

• Seamless, aesthetic fire engineering. Given the theatre’s unusual suspended position and shape, ensuring the safety of patrons in case of emergency was an important early consideration of the designers, who called in the global leader in fire services, Arup Fire to devise evacuation routes and other emergency precautions. Remarkably, although the unusual theatre presented a fire engineering challenge, the practical solution Arup’s experienced people devised in no way compromised the concept’s integrity. The solution called for minor changes to the linking sky-bridge’s inner and outer walls, along with emergency protocols that would prioritise the theatre’s occupants.

In a city that hums by day – and by night – landmark buildings must also make a statement after dark. Arup’s leading-edge designers created interactive decorative lighting for the sphere and the roofline. Inside the towers, in the public concourses and sky-bridges, the building’s functional lighting responds intimately to users: evoking a subtle communication between architectural space and occupant. The lighting nodes on the outer skin of the sphere are LED low wattage dynamically controllable elements.  As a bonus, this approach is less energy intensive because lights are dim until activated as needed.
2) Technology

Flexibility in Configuration

The Genexis Theatre has been designed with theatrical performances in mind but is equally capable of hosting commercial events, corporate functions and conferences. This versatility underpins a design objective for systematic flexibility.The $20-million theatre has 560 adjustable seats that can move in all directions to fit different configurations. The configurations can be done in less than an hour. The seats can be relocated or stored away under the control platform, to facilitate multiple configurations for seminars, product launches, exhibitions and performances. To ensure maximum flexibility, there is no raised stage in the theatre.

Genexis Theatre in thrust stage configuration

Acoustics

The interior of the theatre features an acoustic wall covered with 400,000 timber beads – a first in Singapore. The use of 400,000 timber beads lining the internally curved walls of an ovoid space is an ingenious acoustic solution that simultaneously provides a richly textural curtain that works particularly well with the spherical space.  It is both visually captivating and distinctively functional. The beads serve to diffuse the sound evenly across the curved surfaces of the theatre. The lined curved walls offer controlled acoustics suitable for amplified sound, while maintaining sufficient clarity necessary for the spoken work.

Timber beads as acoustic lining for interior curved walls

Tension Wire Grid

The installation of the tension wire grid is another first in Singapore and this allows for quick and safe access to technical equipment above the theatre’s seating space. Automated rigging allows for quick turn-around and a reduction in manpower requirements. Galvanised aircraft cable is strung together to form a 11, square tension wire grid, 8m above the centre of the theatre space which provides walking space for the technicians

Performance Lighting System

The building’s exterior and public lighting was designed by lighting specialists from Arup. The exterior lighting can be programmed with dynamic lighting shows to suit events with additional spotlight projectors that can cast images and lettering for an extra visual layer. When Arup Lighting submitted the design in early 2005, the concept of an organic, dynamic installation was on the cutting edge of what was possible. Once the design was agreed, the consultants ensured that the luminaries were subtly embedded into the building’s fabric in such a way that they would not be visible during the day.

CONCLUSION

The jury cited that the design of the Genexis Theatre rises to the challenge of an extremely difficult site, and succeeds through a wonderfully cohesive amalgamation of highly technical solutions and innovative design.  The result is a composite work of art and technology that transcends the site. This project raises the bar for cutting edge technology, architectural and audio-visual system design for a performing arts venue.

Editor:William (Asia Architecture Review)

Author: Arup