Interior Design School of Design
Katie Welsh
This final year project was an opportunity to explore the fundamentals of interior design further while investigating the processes of set design. As a designer, I am interested in the narrative of spaces and how nostalgia can play a part in this. Throughout this proposal I researched the history of the building and the era of the 1960s.
Our Theatre
Our Theatre is a space for creatives and professionals to collaborate in writing, designing, and performing theatre shows and events. The building offers the space for individuals to learn these processes and allows room for creativity in terms of event setup. The MacMillan Auditorium is adaptable and provides a multi-purpose events venue, while the Metzstein bar offers an inspiring space for gathering and development. Overall, this proposal aims to create a playful and impactful space, to revitalise the building back to its former glory.
Site
The chosen site on Charlotte Street was designed by the Gillespie, Kidd & Coia practice in the early 1960s and opened in 1964. The building served as an extension to the former Our Lady & St Francis Secondary School which dated from the 1910-1920s. The 1960s extension is a four-storey concrete framed structure; the first two floors are held within a brick and glass infilled concrete frame, then the next two floors and roof sit like floating rafts stacking skyward with fully glazed strips running along the south and north elevations gazing out over the expanse of Glasgow Green opposite and the open space to the north. Originally designed and used as a school, the building closed in 1989 and was converted into offices for the Wise Group, it now lies empty.
Concept
The ambition of my project is to create a theatre space that reacts to the existing site, rather than replacing it. With the chosen site of the brutalist building on Charlotte Street my proposal explores the restoration of the space with a focus on the era of the 1960s and performance space. The project investigates the repurposing of the building into a functional studio theatre and arts venue, by investigating site and typology to develop a proposal.
User
Our Theatre is a space that aims to encourage creativity and collaboration in the field of theatre production. The three main types of users are public (community), designer and staff (production), and performer (performance).
The production sector is concerned with everything that goes into producing a theatre show or event. This includes all staff within the building, designers and technicians etc. The facilities in Our Theatre offer space to learn these production processes.
The public visitors of the space will be utilising the front of house spaces within the venue; the foyer, bar, mezzanine and auditorium. The audience’s experience of the space is crucial to their overall experience of the show.
The spaces used by performers are also important to the smooth running of a show. Dressing rooms, rehearsal studios and access to and from the stage are key elements to be considered.
Space Planning
The elevations of the building have been interfered with as little as possible so that the character of the building can still be enjoyed on Charlotte Street as it has done since the 1960s.
This diagram focusses on the alterations made on the ground and first floor. To re-establish the space as a functional theatre, some internal walls have been removed and replaced. Three structural columns have been removed and replaced with a concrete lintel to make way for an opening between the back of the stage and the set construction area.
Zoning
The building is split up over four storeys and a basement, the main zones used by both public and professional are the bar and auditorium. Staff and professional members of Our Theatre have access to the upper floors where classes and workshops are held.
Production
The production sector of Our Theatre focusses on the processes behind making a theatre show or event. The building is fitted with the facilities to write, design, and build a performance from scratch. With office spaces for meetings, brainstorming, and writing, the initial ideas can be brought to life within the workshops and taken to the stage in the MacMillan Auditorium.
MacMillan Auditorium
The auditorium takes its name from architect Andy MacMillan and is designed as a versatile space for different events and performances. A retractable seating system, stage lift, blackout shutters, and hinged removable panels offer adaptability for various events. Storage for event equipment, tables, and chairs lies behind the auditorium. Behind the stage is a scene shop for storing and building sets and technical equipment. Sliding doors link the workshop and stage for easy access.
Workshops
Situated above the construction area behind the stage, the scenery workshop holds a floor hatch to pass materials down.
Much like the scenery workshop, the props space offers a workshop for designing and building theatre props. With worktops and tools, the workshop offers the facilities for building effective props.
The costume shop is fitted with workspaces, machines, and hanging rails for the production of performance costumes. The workshop is a space to learn the processes of costume design and to produce costumes on-site for Our Theatre productions.
Each workshop is fitted with a bespoke workbench for designing, building, and storing. Pegboards offer adaptable storage systems for the different activities going on in the workshops.
Community
The structure of the mezzanine level guides the customer’s journey through the space. Upon arrival at Our Theatre, visitors are greeted by the spacious open-plan foyer with a bar, box office, and seating. Audience members can enjoy a drink in the bar before making their way to the auditorium to find their seats.
Metzstein Bar
Named after architect Isi Metzstein, this bar space is open to the public and an integral space for performers, staff, and students to relax or study. The space is open to the public and professionals as a space to grab a drink before a performance, meet with friends, or as a workspace during the day. The first-floor mezzanine of the space links the bar and balcony seating, making use of the existing gallery walkway that used to link the two school buildings. The walkway has been opened to overlook the bar’s open space and entrance space to lead the audience to their showtime seating.
Performance
Located on the third floor of the building are two spacious rehearsal studios fitted with vinyl flooring suitable for dance. The spaces can be used for workshops, classes, and rehearsals for dancers, actors, and performers. Storage is located to the sides of the fire escape for equipment and chairs. After rehearsal, performers can relax in the break room or downstairs in the bar.
The dressing rooms are located on the basement level, with access to the stage from the main stairs and lift. The two rooms are fitted with wardrobe space for hanging costumes, and each has an en-suite with a shower. The 1960s theme is carried through these spaces using vintage dressing tables offset by modern chairs and lighting.
Branding
The logo of Our Theatre is derived from the shape of the East side of the building structure to further incorporate the heritage of the site and create a visual identity. The typeface Helvetica Neue is used on signage throughout the space as a clear visual language for way-finding. The overall aesthetic of the branding aims to reflect the era of the mid-century as another reference to the buildings past.
Stage Design
This body of work takes the form of a stage design for a production being performed at Our Theatre. I explored the concept of screen-to-stage adaptation, taking the one-series 1990s sitcom The High Life to the stage by designing a working set for the Our Theatre stage. Throughout this project, I aimed to develop my skills and knowledge in designing for performance, by building a scale model box for the design proposal.
The performance is split into two short acts, starting in the crew room and moving to the plane cabin. Just as the series starts, we will see the antics going on in the crew room with Sebastian and Steve. As they begin their shift we move over to the plane cabin to see how the story unfolds.
