Diffusion

Opera House, 2021

Diffusion

Opera House
Design Studio II, Fall 2021

Location

Toronto ON,
43.6561, -79.3780

Size

5700m2

Tools

Rhinoceros 6
Grasshopper
Adobe Suite
Enscape
Vray 5

Project Description

Opera used to be extremely popular as a form of art but where did it go? Is opera no longer relevant in a modern context? “Diffusion” is an opera house that explores the idea of evolution and diffusion through time. While opera may not be as popular as it once was, it still stands today as the foundation for popular culture as we know it. Opera is just as relevant today by means of its diffusion and influence on modern art. The intention of “Diffusion” is to embody the fundamental elements of opera and expose them into the public space around it using it's sculptural, cell membrane like, facade.

Public Diffusion

Opera is then exposed to the surrounding public, no matter of class, showing them its relevance and long standing beauty.

Pulling the Curtain

The facade of the building lifts to expose these elements to the public through a shift in program and a kinetic facade.

Is Opera Relevant?

Though it might not seem popular in mainstream culture, opera is relevant through its diffusion of elements into modern art

A Cultural Cellular Membrane

The facade of the building is inspired by the diffusion of particles through a cellular membrane. Like these particles moving through a membrane,people can see and move through the opera houses walls.

The typically established high class barrier which will normally separate the opera from "regular people" is shattered into a seamless, transparent, and inviting experience for all to enjoy.

A Cultural Cellular Membrane

The facade of the building is inspired by the diffusion of particles through a cellular membrane. Like these particles moving through a membrane,people can see and move through the opera houses walls.

The typically established high class barrier which will normally separate the opera from "regular people" is shattered into a seamless, transparent, and inviting experience for all to enjoy.

Layered Performance Spaces

While a typical opera house is large and expansive, this proposal takes advantage of what little space it has by stacking performance spaces vertically.
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The primary performance space occupies four floors including a orchestral pit, two levels of seating, and a fly space. The roof of the fly space then becomes an inhabitable terrace with it's own public outdoor performance space

Entrance Facade Encounter

The Performance Space

Like the facade, the performance space uses a series of layered frames. These frames are mainly used to direct the viewers towards the stage, but double as cover for various layers of stage equipment such as lights, cameras, and curtains.

Kinetic Facade Detail

Performance Space

Interior Public Space Section

Rendered Animation