Project name: Node
Client: Teatr Nowy in Warsaw, Municipal Institution of Culture
Object: Dance center
Size: 6517 sqm
Stage: concluded open competition
Team: Fredrik Kjellgren, Joakim Kaminsky, Corina Bermudez, Alexandra Gustafson

Slideshow

SITUATION
The plot is divided into two parts by the new office building. On one side a green open space in front of the existing repair hall and on the other the parking lots well out of sight from the theater and garden. The new office building conducts in dialogue with the repair hall mimicking its shape in a contemporary way.

GARDEN
The garden opens up to the Madalinskiego street and encourages pedestrians to enter the
area. Visitors cross the garden on a path sloping towards the hill on the opposite side.
On the way they can stop and enjoy the park. The outdoor amphitheater is an extension of
the indoor auditorium, allowing plays to take place both indoors and outdoors. The facades
of the buildings along the garden can be used as backdrops for plays with projected
images.

A BEACON
A glass cylinder is placed on the south side of garden and works as a beacon advertising the theater. Here tickets are sold and information given to passers by. Information about
upcoming shows is presented on the facade. The building contains the box office and the administration areas. The building can work independently from the rest of the premises.

ENTRANCE
An access ramp leads visitors underground to the foyer from where all public areas in the building can be reached. The book shop and the restaurant are located near the entrance,
they are placed round a circular garden that is a semi-private space where visitors can relax and children can play. The multifunctional space can be open to the foyer thus
forming one room or divided in smaller rooms. That makes it possible for several events at the same time and it can also be connected with the stage auditorium. A winter garden is placed as a "cut" in the foyer, it let in daylight in to the heart of the building. It works as a chill out area where visitors can interact with spectators without mixing.

THE AUDITORIUM
The whole area of the stage and auditorium is divided in platforms of 3x3 meters. The platforms are placed on hydraulic pillars that allow them to move up and down. This solution grants maximal flexibility, allowing the location of the stage and auditorium to be changed in multiple ways on a smaller area than the suggested. This leaves more space for
different functions. The auditorium can fill maximum 450 persons.

BACKSTAGE
The stage and auditorium are directly connected with the backstage, dressing rooms, concentration rooms and the big rehearsal room. This private area has its own entrance from
the Sandomierska street, both for actors and load in.

A NIGHT AT TEATR NOWY
A young couple, Jozef and Eva, are heading to Teatr Nowy. Its their first visit to the new theater but they have heard so many exciting stories about the plays that they just have to go and see for themselves. Its not hard finding the theater, as approach the building on the Madalinskiego street they directly see a round building, formed like a giant notice board lighting its surroundings. On it they can read information about the plays on show. They head for the ticket office in the bottom floor right next to Madalinskiego street. They buy two tickets for a play that will start in one and a half hour, a dinner at the restaurant is included in the price. Entering the theater is an experience in itself. As they follow a path towards the entrance projections illuminates the facades on both sides. The houses are covered with moving images of the play they will soon see. On the right hand side an amphitheater slopes down into the ground, in front of the a small hill lies, light comes up from its center. The path gradually slopes downwards towards the side of the hill. Upon arriving in the underground foyer they are surprised with the big scale and lightness of the room. They enter the restaurant on the right hand side and sit down at a table next to the wintergarden. After a delicious meal they enter the auditorium. The stage is in the middle with spectators surrounding it, they have good seats for the play, close to the stage. After the first act they walk into the wintergarden right next to the auditorium, here they have a cocktail under the trees discussing the play with other visitors. Upon returning for the second act they are struck by how the auditorium has changed completely;
now the stage is on the front side and open to the exterior amphitheater and the spectators on seats sloping towards it.
Actors move in and out interacting with the public. When the play has ended they leave the auditorium and walk through the foyer. Before leaving the theater they stop by the bookshop buying a book with photos from the play they have just enjoyed.