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Charred Wooden Shingles And Plywood Seating In A Flexible Sound Stage Design

Authors:
Katherine Radley, Alison Luo
Charred Wooden Shingles And Plywood Seating In A Flexible Sound Stage Design

Project in-detail

Constructed with charred wooden shingles and plywood seating, this flexible sound stage enables diverse performance configurations while enhancing acoustic quality and fostering community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with charred wooden shingles for enhanced durability and aesthetics.
02
Plywood seating modules provide flexible arrangement options for various events.
03
The bent A-frame design optimizes acoustics while maintaining a modern appearance.
04
Integrated interactive stage elements encourage audience participation.
05
Designed for easy adaptation to different performance types and community gatherings.

# Architectural Design Report: Wavelength Sound Stage

## Project Overview

**Project Title:** Wavelength
**Architects:** Alison Luo and Kit Radley
**Location:** An open public space designated for cultural gatherings and performances.

Wavelength is designed as a modular sound stage that facilitates dynamic interactions between music, space, and community. The project's intent is to create a flexible platform suitable for a variety of artistic performances while encouraging active engagement from both artists and audiences. Its adaptable configuration addresses the diverse needs of different events, emphasizing architectural versatility in enhancing user experience.

## Modular Adaptability

The concept of modularity underpins the spatial strategy of Wavelength. The project incorporates a series of customizable components that can be rearranged based on specific user requirements. This design promotes a sense of ownership and personal engagement, allowing participants to shape their experience. The acoustic aspects of the architecture further enhance the user experience by ensuring high-quality sound absorption and projection, which are integral to live performances.

### Key Features:
- **Configurable Seating:** The seating arrangement comprises individual modules that can be reconfigured for various audience layouts, including flexible amphitheater and arena styles. This adaptability supports a wide range of performance formats and audience sizes.
- **Interactive Stage Design:** The stage includes a central wooden structure engineered to function not only as a performance area but also as a xylophone, inviting experimental interaction and enriching the art experience.

## Material Selection

Material choices significantly contribute to the overall aesthetic and performance capabilities of Wavelength. The use of natural materials aligns the design with its outdoor context while addressing functional requirements.

- **Wood:** Employed for structural and surface elements, wood enhances sound absorption and offers a visually appealing, organic quality. Its integration into seating and stages complements the environmental setting.
- **Steel Connectors:** These provide structural stability for modular assemblies, ensuring resilience while maintaining the flexibility of the design.
- **Plywood:** Utilized in seating and module construction, plywood strikes a balance between robustness and lightweight properties, facilitating easy reconfiguration.

## Acoustic and Spatial Dynamics

Acoustic considerations are crucial in the design of Wavelength, ensuring optimal sound quality throughout the venue.

- **Sound Absorption Mechanisms:** Seating and spatial elements are strategically designed to manage sound dynamics effectively, minimizing auditory distractions and maximizing enjoyment in an outdoor setting.
- **Effective Sound Projection:** The orientation of the stage is deliberately configured to enable clear sound transmission to the audience, while maintaining proximity between performers and attendees for enhanced interaction.

In essence, Wavelength stands as a significant exploration in architectural design, merging the concepts of community interaction and user-centric adaptability with functional and aesthetic considerations in a performance space.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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Competition organisers

The MICROHOME 10 competition invites participants to submit visionary designs for off-grid, modular microhomes that push the limits of sustainable, small-scale living. Organised by Buildner in partnership with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this tenth edition sets the challenge of designing a dwelling for two people within a maximum floor area of 25 m², encouraging bold solutions adaptable to any urban or rural location. The competition continues Buildner’s mission to foster innovative approaches to compact, energy-efficient housing that can address pressing global challenges.

This year’s edition offers a generous total prize fund of €100,000, including the Kingspan Award for designs that integrate high-performance Kingspan products and the Hapi Homes Award for a project selected for real-world construction. In addition to cash prizes, the winners gain international exposure through Buildner’s media partnerships, publications, and a dedicated MICROHOME magazine, further amplifying their ideas to the wider architectural community.

Key dates for MICROHOME 10 include the closing date for registration on 25 September 2025, the submission deadline on 29 October 2025 (11:59 p.m. London time), and the announcement of winners on 9 December 2025. These milestones ensure participants have clear timelines to develop and present their concepts, with early registration discounts available to support students and emerging designers worldwide.

MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 25 September 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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