Flanagan Lawrence

Szczecin Summer Theatre

Flanagan Lawrence

20. January 2016

Image: Flanagan Lawrence (All images courtesy of v2com)

Flanagan Lawrence has won an international competition to design a Summer Theatre in Szczecin, Poland.

Image: Flanagan Lawrence

The brief called for design proposals to maximize the flexibility of the 1976-designed theatre for a variety of performances on the stage, and to add a new roof to enclose both the stage and the audience. The underside of the roof, which covers the stage and front of auditorium, will enhance and project the natural acoustic for orchestral events. This is achieved by a roof which is structurally independent of the existing arch, and is formed by a curved truss which serves as the edge beam to a single cable net structure. This net supports a series of inflated fabric roof panels and suspended acoustic reflectors. Two additional trusses span the stage to support the load of the lighting grid.

Image: Flanagan Lawrence

Flanagan Lawrence’s proposal will also upgrade the 2,500 seat structure with additional facilities including a box office, bathrooms, a café and a refurbished backstage area.

Image: Flanagan Lawrence

The back of the stage is enclosed acoustically by curved glazed screens, which offer picturesque views out to Rusalka lake and create a scenic backdrop to performances.

Image: Flanagan Lawrence

The original structure, including the concrete arch, was designed by Zbigniew Abrahamowicz and opened in 1976.

Site Plan (Drawing: Flanagan Lawrence)

Exploded Axonometric (Drawing: Flanagan Lawrence)

Rear Elevation (Drawing: Flanagan Lawrence)

PROJECT DETAILS

Client
The City of Szczecin (Gmina Miasto Szczecin)

Architects
Flanagan Lawrence

Acoustics
Arup

Structural Engineers
Expedition

Cost
12million Polish zloty (zł) (Circa £2.4m)

Site area
16,659 sm

Expected completion date
018