This article was taken from the March 2016 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
This 1,200-square-metre auditorium, which doubles as a recording studio, is built inside the century-old brick husk of a former industrial sawdust factory in Williamsburg, New York. Dubbed National Sawdust and designed by Brooklyn-based architecture studio Bureau V, the venue comprises a thick-walled concrete cube which rests on shock-absorbent springs, creating what architect Peter Zuspan calls an "acoustic envelope" that seals the auditorium in silence.
," says Zuspan. Inside, a wraparound, translucent skin made from panels of aluminium and speaker fabric allows sound to pass through freely, and also houses audiovisual and electrical systems to create the seamless, modular auditorium space within. Between these two layers, massive curtains can be drawn to precisely tune the sound.
Bureau V, which worked on the project with architecture firm SLAB and the theatre team from London engineering firm Arup, built 3D models to map the auditorium's acoustic workings: for instance, the angular roof allows the diffusion of higher-pitched notes. Aesthetics also drove the design, with the auditorium's embellished interior harking back to the 18th-century trend of ornamentation in music chambers.
National Sawdust founder Kevin Dolan wanted the space to become a platform for seasoned artists to perform, as well as a facility where young musicians can record their debuts. The venue, which opened in October 2015, has attracted violinists, singers, orchestral players and musicians. "We're hoping that the egalitarian nature of one intimate space will expose countless new works to the world," Zuspan says.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
