Global Redesign Project 2. Resonance: Virtual and Real: Design of a Performing Arts Center

GLOBAL REDESIGN PROJECT 2: RESONANCE: VIRTUAL AND REAL: DESIGN OF A PERFORMANCE ART CENTER SYLLABUS GLOBAL REDESIGN PROJECT 2: RESONANCE: VIRTUAL AND REAL: DESIGN OF A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Revised: October 3, 2010Resonance: Resonances occur when a system is able to transfer energy between two or more different \”modes.\” In this studio, architects as agents of change, will become catalysts for two \”modes\”of non-profit organizations, Youth Orchestra of the Americas and Le Kinkeliba. Through the design of concert halls for these two organizations, architects promote a cross-breeding of purpose, an interface of goals and agendas to encourage collaboration. It is an attempt to create an \”architecture\”of a robust social structure at a global scale that enables grassroots organization to survive into the next phase of scalable and sustainable growth. The first part of the studio is \”Virtual Resonance\”Youth Orchestra of the Americas was founded in 2001 by the New England Conservatory and Vision Inc. It was inspired by the National System of Youth and Children\’s Orchestras of Venezuela created by Jose Antonio Abreu. It uses the power of music to encourage international understanding, and assembles a world-class orchestra of young musicians from countries of the Americas. It is a grassroots organization that touches the lives of youth and families of under-served communities. It provides an exemplary music education, and cultivates music ambassadors and future leaders. Its ambition is to make music, the infrastructure and catalyst for social change. The studio will design virtual concert halls for Youth Orchestra of the Americas during the first part of the semester. Currently, they audition over the internet from all over the world and the virtual concert hall creates opportunities for them to rehearse and perform with youths who live around the world. It will create a diverse environment of different sizes and attributes. The virtual performance halls created in the studio will be posted on their website for their use.We are collaborating with Arup Acoustics\’ Raj Patel for technicalities on performance hall design. We will have access to Arup\’s sound simulation lab in New York City to test the sound effect of each design. The studio will focus its study on the relationship of sound to material and geometry in this phase of the project. The Youth Orchetra of Americas proposed an \”Interlude\” mode of study for this studio.One of their supporters is Phillip Glass. He requested the studio to look at a potential for portable concert halls for his performance in at least three locations, one in Nova Scotia, the other in Big Sur and the third one in Holland. It will house two types of concerts, one for an ensemble of 8 musicians for the audience of 100 and the other for a festival with full orchestra for the audience of 500. Michael Stein, a partner of Shclaich Bergemann structural engineer will be available to offer technical guidance for the studio. The studio will listen to Phillip Glass\’ music to understand his music composition in relationship to contemporary culture, especially in his transition into polyphonic music, his collaboration with artists such as Robert Wilson and movie directors for sound track compositions. The second part of the studio is \”Real Resonance\”Last year, the studio traveled to Senegal and collaborated with Le Kinkeliba to program and design various types of cultural organizations. This studio will benefit from the information gathered in this previous studio, that established planning criteria for this particular sub-Saharan site, climate and socio-economic make-up of its community and the greater region. One of the programs that emerged out of the studio was a center for performing arts. The region is very rich with traditional performing a