genexis theater, fusionopolis by ARUP/WOHA

front of house of genexis theater photo by patrick bingham-hall image courtesy woha

genexis theater, fusionopolis in singapore, designed by ARUP and WOHA architects, was awarded design of the year for the president’s design award at the singapore design week 09. the design of the genexis theater rises to the challenge of an extremely difficult site, and succeeds through a cohesive amalgamation of highly technical solutions and innovation design. the result is a composite work of art and technology that transcends the site, and raises the bar for architectural and audio-visual system design for a performing arts venue.

the theater’s feature include 560 adjustable seats that are retractable to create a thrust stage, and yet movable in multiple directions. the use of 400,000 timber beads line the internally curved walls of an ovoid space with an acoustic solution reducing the echo to minimum.

the main materials in the front of house and theater are largely untreated timber, steel and plywood photo by patrick bingham-hall image courtesy woha

photo by patrick bingham-hall image courtesy woha

photo by patrick bingham-hall image courtesy woha

photo by patrick bingham-hall image courtesy woha

photo by patrick bingham-hall image courtesy woha

photo by patrick bingham-hall image courtesy woha

genexis theater in end stage formation photo by patrick bingham-hall image courtesy woha

genexis theater in center stage formation photo by patrick bingham-hall image courtesy woha

stage photo by patrick bingham-hall image courtesy woha

double curved timber bead walls and entrances to the theater photo by patrick bingham-hall image courtesy woha

detail of the timber bead wall image © designboom

genexis theater in flat floor mode photo by patrick bingham-hall image courtesy woha

photo by patrick bingham-hall image courtesy woha

genexis theater, fusionopolis credits: ARUP: andrew nicol, pricipal, regional national leader arts and culture: project director and theater acoustic design tan suan wee, project acoustic engineertheater planning and technology ltd leil morton, partner

WOHA: wong mun summ, founding director schirin taraz-breinholt, project manager jadesupa pipatsuporn, interior designer

client/owner: JTC corporation (JTC)

theater contractor: early stages: jurong consultants pte ltd later atages: shimizu corporation

mechanical & electrical engineer: jurong consultants pte ltd

civil & structural engineer: jurong consultants pte ltd

quantity surveyor: rider levett bucknall