Soundscape Analysis, Diego Diez de Medina

While during the day the building by Frank Gehry and the Soundscape by West 8 may seem disconnected  and separate from one another, a virtual connection from the interior of the building to the garden is achieved by the use of large speakers and projectors. The technology used in the New World Symphony sound garden has proven to activate the garden in such a way that it no longer is just a park.

The park and the wall used for projections become a temporary theater, as the activity on the interior of the building is projected on the wall. In this way, the Sounscape is brought to life by the activity, and its visitors. it is at around 7 p.m. that people start arriving and setting up their picnic blankets, taking out some snacks and drinks, etc. At the same time, the people who are actually going into the building to watch the performance arrive. It is at this point that the difference in experience of the spectator become clear.

 

ARRIVAL: THEATER VS. PARK

On one hand the spectators viewing the performance from the Soundscape, arrive to the park waling. On the other hand, the visitors using the interior of the building drive up the garage and from the garage there is a connection to the theater, eliminating the connection with the urban fabric.

The formal experience provided by the theater for its visitors poses a great contrast with the casual experience provided for the spectators at the park. There are chairs in the building, while at the park the visitor sets up picnic blankets wherever there is an open and comfortable spot, comfort outside is measured by the materiality of the ground, grass = very comfortable, concrete = too hard to be sitting on for too long. At the same time the casual experience is enhanced by the fact that people are invited to join in the experience at any time during the performance, visitors arrive and leave at any time. Also, the activation of the park becomes even more apparent when even passerbyers stop for a brief moment or maybe even staying during the entire performance, making this experience a more spontaneous, unplanned activity for the public.

THE CASUAL EXPERIENCE AT THE PARK

 

 What becomes more interesting about these two completely different experiences is the fact that although both types of spectators are enjoying the same performance, the experience is completely different. it is different even to the point where for the spectators at the park, the building, the park, and even the spectators become part of the show. the experience that the visitors get from the park is one that brings all the elements in the building, the performance and the park together to fit into one social and cultural gathering.

VIRTUAL INTERVENTION. CONNECTION BETWEEN INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR