TH O RAVEJ 29 BL ACK BOX EM EA
COPENHAGEN / DENMARK
A b es po k e l i t t l e b l a c k b o x with all the tec h n o l o g y r e q u i r e d to e nh a nc e cr ea tiv i t y a n d t r a n s f e r pe rf ormanc e s to the b ig g e s t s t a g e s .
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V E N U E - E ME A | WWW.M O ND O D R .CO M
Thoravej 29 in Copenhagen is a vibrant hub for art, social innovation, and sustainability. Home to 150 individuals from 30 organisations, it fosters collaboration across disciplines to drive positive societal change. Established by Bikubenfonden, which purchased the 4,621 sq m former industrial building in 2021, Thoravej 29 is designed to inspire new ways of thinking through its diverse facilities, including a black box theatre, white cube gallery, workshops, studios, and collaborative workspaces. Sustainability is central to its design as the building renovation reused existing materials – ceilings became stairs, facades became floors, and old doors were repurposed to be used as tables. This eco-conscious transformation, led by Pihlmann Architects and Hoffmann A/S Construction, has earned the building a DGNB Gold pre-certification from the Danish Council for Sustainable Building in 2023, and the Building Award from the Danish Building of the Year competition in 2024. At the heart of this creative ecosystem lies the Blackbox – a versatile performance and rehearsal space meticulously crafted to cater to the multifaceted demands of contemporary performing arts. Copenhagen based AV consultants and integrators Stouenborg played a central role in creating the technical framework that makes Blackbox a flexible and innovative space, with advanced theatrical features, lighting and sound infrastructure, as well as AV technology. The Blackbox functions as an ideal venue for workshops, theatrical productions, concerts, and multimedia performances, as it seamlessly blends flexibility with its technical excellence. The Blackbox’s design features black-painted walls, floors, and ceilings, minimising light reflection and providing a canvas for innovative lighting designs and visual effects. The robust flooring is engineered to support substantial loads, ensuring safety and stability during elaborate stage setups, and also features a Harlequin Floors Duo black/white vinyl roll solution. Acoustically, the space is optimised for balanced sound distribution, with high levels of sound isolation and minimal background noise, allowing for performances with elevated sound levels without disrupting adjacent areas. Central to the Blackbox’s functionality is its advanced rigging system from ASM Steuerungstechnik, comprising multiple motorised HCWA Junior 400 stage hoists capable of lifting 500kg per unit. This system, managed by a sophisticated control interface, ensures precise and safe operation of stage elements, accommodating complex set designs and dynamic scene changes. The lighting infrastructure is anchored by a state-of-the-art MA Lighting grandMA3 light console, complemented by an array of versatile LED profile lamps from JB Lighting and Prolights. The setup empowers lighting designers to craft immersive atmospheres and dramatic effects, enhancing and exploring the audience experience. The sound system is equally impressive, featuring a Yamaha DM3 mixer, an advanced CueLab playback system, and strategically positioned speakers from Meyer Sound that deliver crystal clear audio, which utilises Spacemap Go via two Galaxy 816 audio processors for spatial audio compatibility, with UltraX-20, MM-4XP and UP-4Slim loudspeakers positioned along with MM-10 and USW-210 subwoofers for low end. Connectivity within the Blackbox is facilitated by a robust network infrastructure by Luminex with signals that are converted using Direct Out PRODIGY.MP audio processing. This secures and supports seamless integration of