metro arquitetos associados: the new castro alves theatre

the new castro alves theatre by metro arquitetos associados all images courtesy metro arquitetos associados

brazilian metro arquitetos associados have developed a proposal for the new castro alves theatre. the main issue raised by this project was how to add new uses to an already complex program, and, at the same time, increase the articulation between its spaces. to resolve the issue, the architects worked on two fronts: reading the uses and practices in the current configuration, sedimented through time, and reconnect them to the potentials, often ignored, of the original project, in a job that involved interpretation, recomposition and restoration.

they opened the existing building to the public, revealing how it works on the inside, as an object for exposition. through internal passages and a large square at a strategic level, they connected and articulated the existing collective spaces with new programs, either public or restricted. the center of reference of spectacle engineering follows the same logic of exposing itself to the visitor and to the city in a vertical open building that is properly connected to the original theater rooms, transforming the actions themselves in a way of exhibiting. all the fluxes and circulations were sorted out with the objective of consolidating a clear division that allowed all the areas to run simultaneously without any access conflict, acoustic interference or insufficiency of support services.

finally, all the show and rehearsal rooms were technically sorted out. considering that the ultimate goal of the new TCA is to provide the enjoyment of high quality artistic experiences and the ideal conditions for artistic creation, all the show rooms and the support areas were designed and equipped using the most appropriate criteria and systems currently available, with dimensions and solutions that allow the necessary flexibility that would integrate perfectly to the site.

view from a distance

the lower ground level

the pedestrian bridge which leads to the theatre

theatre

the new theatre

floor plan

floor plan floor plan

elevation

project info: date of project: 2009 public competition martin corullon, anna ferrari,gustavo cedroni, paloma delgado, paula noia, ricardo canton, bruno kim, alfonso simelio total area: 279.870 sq ft (26.000 m²)