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Charred Wooden Shingles and Plywood Seating in a Flexible Sound Stage Design

Charred Wooden Shingles and Plywood Seating in a Flexible Sound Stage Design
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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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The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025: Celebrating Architectural Creativity and Visionary Unbuilt Designs with a Total Prize Fund of €100,000

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The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 is an international architecture competition dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the value of unrealized architectural designs. It invites architects, designers, and students worldwide to submit visionary projects that have not yet been constructed, highlighting the power of ideas and the creativity behind the design process. By focusing on unbuilt work, the competition aims to bring forward concepts that shape the future of architecture and push the boundaries of the profession. 

Participants can compete in three categories based on project scale: Small Wonders (up to 100 m²), Medium Marvels (101–999 m²), and Large Visions (over 1,000 m²). Each category winner will receive €20,000, and additional prizes include honorable mentions, student awards, and a special Best Presentation Award. Winning projects will gain significant international exposure through Buildner’s publicity campaign and a feature article on ArchDaily, providing a unique opportunity to showcase creative ideas to a global audience. 

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 encourages entrants to submit any type of unbuilt project, from conceptual visions to detailed designs, celebrating bold innovation without the constraints of realization. Important deadlines: registration closes on October 30, 2025; submissions are due by November 20, 2025; winners will be announced on December 17, 2025.

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100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
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