Open Air Theatre - Case Study - Ansal Plaza
Open Air Theatre - Case Study - Ansal Plaza
Open Air Theatre - Case Study - Ansal Plaza
Brief introduction
Design principles
Sound reflected
from tiers
The principal defect of the Greek and Roman theatres is
that the semicircular tiers of seats act as reflectors
that tend to focus sounds from the stage back to a
point on or near the stage.
Focus
back
near the
source
Moreover, the echoes from concentric tiers are reinforced at certain frequencies and diminished at
others.
The reason is that the vertical risers, which form the backs of the benches,
create an level of uniformly spaced reflecting surfaces.
The reflected waves are in phase and reinforce each other when the
distance between risers is equal to one, two, three or any other whole
number of half-wavelengths.
When the distance between risers is one, three, five or any other odd
number of quarter-wavelengths, the reflected waves meet in contrary phase
and thus tend to cancel each other.
Constructive
Interference
Focus on
stage
The sound reflected from the tiers of benches produces a sustained echo
whose characteristic pitch is determined by the distance separating adjacent
risers.
Reflected sound
Direct sound
PRECEDENCE
EFFECT
The
In the simple model the seating area (cavea) is shaped as sloping surfaces and
the back wall (proscenium) behind the stage is modelled as a plane surface. In the
detailed model, the cavea is defined with seat rows and stairs, a colonnade behind
the last row and a more detailed proscenium.
One of the reasons for the detailed model to give better results is that definition of
the rows on the cavea horizontal reflections between cavea and proscenium.
The sound will in this case bounces back and forth between the vertical seat
rises and the proscenium wall. These reflections will arrive at a listener position
with large delay and attenuation but will nevertheless contribute to a long
reverberation time.
It has been shown that in simulations of open-air roman theatres the definition of the
seating area has a big impact on the acoustics of the room. When the cavea of the
theatre is modelled
1. AS SLOPED SURFACES
A detailed seating area with rows and steps allows horizontal reflections between
seat rises and proscenium resulting in higher accordance with measured data.
Amphitheatre
Area:3000sqm
A part of HUDCO Place built
on 35 acres of land, Ansal
Plaza is a shopping complex
situated near South
Extension.
A perfect hangout destination, it is built in a circular fashion around an
amphitheatre with a centre stage. Different cultural functions are organized here
from time to time such as fashion shows, live band performances and performing
arts to promote the retail area.
The circular entity of the building has a special significance - it reflects the
individuality of a shopping mall, indicating to the customer that each and every
part of the building has something of quality to offer.
Leading off from the blue bowl and circular minar here the central axis oath at the
stepped level, interacting spaces a communicative linkage with nature generates
soothing.
Seating area
As such no backstage is
provided, the sound
appears to spread out
when no audience is sitting
and no extra measures
have been taken to
enhance the sound
propagation.
View towards
the stage
Propagated
sound
Sound reflecting
from the glass
surface of the
building
lights
Placement of
speakers
Propagation of sound
towards the audience
Varying
heights to
break the
path of
sound as
required
The sound
prorogating from the
back is absorbed at
the ends by the plants
SEATS DETAILS
STAGE
There is 1 large main stage and two smaller side stages in front of the audience
The level should be 3 above the base of the lowest row of seats
A proscenium (stage area) opening of about 70
Plenty of wing space at least 50 at each side of the acting area
A height of the proscenium wall on each side of the opening should be set in
order to mask the back stage activity from the audience
A back wall for a 70 proscenium opening would be about 110