‘masrah al qasba theater’ by magma architecture, sharjah, UAE image © torsten seidel all images courtesy of magma architecture

german practice magma architecture has recently completed the 300-seat ‘marsah al qasbah theater,’ their first project in the united arab emirates, as part of the cultural center for the sharjah region designed as an homage to tradition and history with a suggestion to its future. the interior of the auditorium evokes the local desert landscape at dusk where news and stories would be shared vocally amongst travelers and citizens. lights are subtly hidden in the peaks and valleys of the ridges illuminating the dunes. a redundant aluminum-rib substructure spans the length of the space, wrapping over the walls to reach the floor. a fire-rated spandex textile is simply stretched over the tubes, reinterpreting a traditional material within a contemporary context and creating an aesthetically effective result with a minimal use of resources. mechanical, electrical and sound systems are concealed behind the porous membrane, still able to function normally without creating a visual distraction.

magma architecture: masrah al qasba theater interior image © torsten seidel

magma architecture: masrah al qasba theater lights concealed in the valleys of the dune-like forms image © torsten seidel

magma architecture: masrah al qasba theater a dessert landscape is created on the ceiling image © torsten seidel

magma architecture: masrah al qasba theater image © torsten seidel

magma architecture: masrah al qasba theater lights at the peaks of the volumes illuminate the stage and provide ambient lighting image © torsten seidel

magma architecture: masrah al qasba theater view to the stage image © torsten seidel

magma architecture: masrah al qasba theater 300 seats face the stage image © torsten seidel

magma architecture: masrah al qasba theater image © torsten seidel

magma architecture: masrah al qasba theater image © torsten seidel

magma architecture: masrah al qasba theater image © torsten seidel

magma architecture: masrah al qasba theater a dramatic dessert effect is created on the ceiling images © torsten seidel

magma architecture: masrah al qasba theater image © torsten seidel

magma architecture: masrah al qasba theater image © torsten seidel

magma architecture: masrah al qasba theater lobby image © torsten seidel

magma architecture: masrah al qasba theater exterior image © torsten seidel

magma architecture: masrah al qasba theater floor plan / level 2

magma architecture: masrah al qasba theater floor plan / level 3

magma architecture: masrah al qasba theater reflected ceiling plan

magma architecture: masrah al qasba theater section perspective

magma architecture: masrah al qasba theater fabric and aluminum substructure construction

project info:

client: al qasba development authority architecture: magma architecture mechanical & electrical engineering: sarraj smep engineering consultants acoustics: akustik ingenieurbüro moll magma architecture team: martin ostermann, lena kleinheinz, hendrik bohle, philipp mecke, anke noske, carlos lara fabric and aluminium construction: ellermann gmbh, rietberg, germany main contractor: foyer, ac, electrical elements fitout décor, sharjah, uae total area of conversion: 820 m² auditorium no of seats: 300 fabric: my tx stretch color