Design Stories 2.03

The Soraya Plan

The Event. In winning the great Paris Opera House competition of 1860, Louis Garnier famously transformed the theater experience. His winning entry recognized that the event was as much about the patrons as what was on the stage. People go to the theater to see and be seen by other patrons—their arrival, interior circulation, and the hall itself are all part of the public performance, as important as the scripted performance.

For Soraya, we recognized that need for the procession so often voided by hidden entry sequences where parking leads to cramped escalators leads to tight lobbies leads to seats. The Soraya is a courtyard U where multiple public “stages” are shared. Whether approaching from the south into a grand lobby with three levels or through the surrounding gardens where bridges, stairs, art gallery and lobby all share in the arrival.

The whole building is a stage not only for the public who come to performances but also for the students on CSUN campus who everyday practice their lines, play musical instruments and dance their steps. The Event can be the choreography of 1,600 patrons or two students learning a new piece on guitar.

 

 

 

  • The Soraya Plan
  • The Soraya Plan
  • The Soraya Plan
  • The Soraya Plan
  • The Soraya Plan