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SSA

STUDIO SEILERN 2

Studio Seilern Architects

ARCHITECTS

Studio Seilern Architects

DEVELOPING AN ARCHITECTURAL LANGUAGE

BUILDING WITH A SOUL

We are perpetually in search of an architecture of pluralism, one flexible enough to apply to different cultures, sites, patrons.... and yet not prescriptive enough to embody a pre-established aesthetic that ignores the specifics of a given project. While there may be a recognisable approach through our work, one of bold strokes, the search for the essence of a project, and that of an intelligent idea, is always at the heart of the creative process.

The history of a site, the imprint of the city and the place all form the inherent soul of a project. It is when the architect interprets these that architecture starts to emerge.

We aim to develop a language of simplicity: reaching to the essence of the problem. What does the building want to become? What does our instinct say about the site, the programme, and does our approach fit comfortably? When referring to his writing, DH Lawrence suggested not to always trust the author, but to allow the story to take its own path. Every project becomes a moment of discovery, and a thoughtful process of analysis that hopefully leads to a solution that is intelligent, fresh, and specific to the project itself. The power lies in that a building will live longer than its author or its user, and must therefore be allowed to take a life of its own. It must be given the ability to change over time. A preconceived idea, in our minds, becomes a missed opportunity, and has the danger of being fashionable and quickly out dated. This is especially relevant in this age of images, Instagram, Pinterest (Pinstress as we call it), and fast realistic renderings, clients often crave those, wanting to see the final result from the onset of a project. A strong idea must be allowed to mature through its own parameters and bring us to a solution that we initially had neither planned nor envisioned.

However, it is the craftsmanship, the construction process, the realisation of a project which really allows us to test whether our thought process was a successful one, leading to a good piece of architecture. The construction process, or the realisation of a project, is a time when the real making of architecture happens, and also when the greatest danger of diluting the idea can occur, in the name of efficiency and expediency. The sheer determination to hold on to the strength of an idea, sometimes at the resistance from a project manager or a client, is a challenge that we have faced over and over again. We are more interested in producing good architecture than 'radical architecture' for the sake of being radical. The latter is often in danger of being short-lived in its 'radical-ness'. This is especially true in this age of accelerated communication. We always look not to be distracted by this overload of imagery and information and introspectively look at an individual project like a problem that needs its own unique solution. We aim to produce buildings with a soul that is rooted in the very context that it inhabits. All projects, we hope, reflect the passion, determination, and hard work that we have put into them. We strongly believe that a project is as successful as the time and effort one has invested in it. We hope to continue with the same stamina for years to come.

Christina Seilern Principal Studio Seilern Architects

Please scan the barcode to view a recent episode of the Sky Arts ‘The Art of Architecture’ series, featuring the Andermatt Concert Hall and the wider work of our studio. The series explores renowned works of architecture and the inspiration of the architects behind them. We are thrilled and humbled to having been featured in this series and we thought you might enjoy watching.

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PROJECTS ACROSS THE GLOBE

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PRACTICE HONOURS & AWARDS

Architizer A+Awards 2022 Hall/Theatre

WAF - Future Educational Projects 2016

Andermatt Concert Hall - Winner

KSI Rabat - Finalist

Andermatt Concert Hall - Winner

Architizer A+Awards 2022 Cultural Firm

WAF- Future Educational Projects 2015

Oak Cottage - Winner

Studio Seilern Architects - Finalist

Wellington College PAC - Winner

D&AD Awards 2023

Architizer A+Awards 2022 Cultura/Conference

Blueprint Awards - Best Non-Public Project 2014

Boksto Skrevas - Winner

Centre

Gota Dam Residence - Winner

DNA Paris Awards 2023

El Gouna Cultural and Conference Centre - Finalist AYA - International Breakthrough Architect of the

Civic Trust Awards 2023 Andermatt Concert Hall - Winner

WAN Female Frontier Awards 2021

Year 2013 - Commended

Christina Seilern - Architect of the Year Finalist AYA - One-off House Architect of the Year 2013

Civic Trust Awards 2023

Finalist

Special Award for reuse & adaptation

BCIA Awards 2020 - Smart Building Award

Andermatt Concert Hall - Winner

Andermatt Concert Hoall - Finalist

World of Architecture Awards 2022

Architects’ Journal Architecture Awards - 2019

London 2013

Paros Residence, Greece - Finalist

G.W. Annenberg Performing Arts Centre - Finalist

Winner

World of Architecture Awards 2022

Structural Steel Design Awards 2019

RIBA International Award 2013

El Gouna Conference and Cultural Centre, Egypt -

G.W. Annenberg Performing Arts Centre - Winner

Gota Dam Residence - Winner

Finalist

of Merit Award

Dezeen Awards 2022

RIBA National Awards - South 2019

Studio Seilern Architects - Longlisted

G.W. Annenberg Performing Arts Centre - Finalist

Dezeen Awards 2022

BCO 2019 - British Council for Offices Awards

El Gouna Conference and Cultural Centre, Egypt -

Ansdell Street - Finalist

Future Reception Competition, AJ/Derwent

LEAF Awards 2013 Gota Dam Residence - Finalist WAN House of the Year 2012

Longlisted

Gota Dam Residence - Winner LEAF - Interiors Awards - 2013

WAF-Future Leisure Led Development Projects International Architecture Awards 2022

2018

Andermatt Concert Hall

Restaurant Gütsch - Finalist

Architizer A+ Awards 2022

AJ Architecture Awards 2017 - Workplace of the

Best Cultural Firm - Finalist

Year

Lauenen Residence - Winner WAN Interiors - 2013 Lauenen Residence - Finalist White Horse Street - Finalist

Ansdell Street - Finalist Architizer A+ Awards 2022

WAN Residential - 2012

El Gouna Conference and Cultural Centre, Egypt -

AJ Retrofit Awards 2017

Finalist

Ansdell Street - Finalist

Architizer A+ Awards 2022

New London Architecture Awards 2017

Andermatt Concert Hall, Switzerland - Finalist

Ansdell Street - Finalist

WAN Female Frontier Awards 2022

RIBA London Regional Award 2017

2013

Christina Seilern - Architect of the Year Winner

Ansdell Street - Finalist

Oxford Gardens - Finalist

Jabi Lake - Highly Commended WAN Interiors - 2012 Kensington Residence - Finalist New London Architecture - Don’t Move, Improve

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SELECTED WORKS Studio Seilern Architects

012 EL GOUNA CONFERENCE CENTRE AND CONCERT HALL EL GOUNA, EGYPT 026 ANDERMATT CONCERT HALL ANDERMATT, SWITZERLAND 038 G.W. ANNENBERG PAC BERKSHIRE, UK 048 CURVE THEATRE LEICESTER, UK 052 THESSALONIKI CONFEX PARK THESSALONIKI, GR 070 SHENZHEN CULTURAL CENTRE SHENZHEN, CHINA 078 ALULA MUSIC HUB AL ULA, KSA

Studio Seilern Architects

EL GOUNA CONFERENC CENTRE & CONCERT HA

Studio Seilern Architects

CE ALL

l Gouna is located in Egypt and is situated on the west coast

of the Red Sea, approximately 30km North West of the town of Hurghada. The site has a relatively short history, previously untouched coral reefs and sand until it was developed on in 1998 by Orascom HD

to build a unique holiday destination.

Following the immense success of the Gouna Film Festival, Orascom HD has decided to investigate the building of a Concert and Conference Centre in El Gouna. This is not aiming to be the largest conference centre in Egypt, but rather the most spectacular and memorable one. An architecture befitting of the place and the ambition is, therefore, one that is impactful and elegantly monumental.

Location: El Gouna, Egypt Completion date: Phase 01: 2019 Covered Area: 9,700sqm Footprint: 40,000sqm Client: Orascom DH Structural engineer: EOC, ECO Civil engineer: ECMA M&E consultant: ECG Theatre Consultant: Ducks Sceno Acoustic Consultants: Kahle, Nagata Lighting consultant: Atelier TEN Landscape architect: Landdesigners Fire Consultant: OFR

Studio Seilern Architects

The scheme’s inspiration is rooted in middle eastern and Egyptian traditional architecture. The scale of ancient Egyptian architecture was a guiding factor in the conceptualisation of the scheme. 2000 seat conference centre will be the second phase of the cultural complex that includes a 620seat concert hall and a plaza surrounded by an artificial lagoon. Arches and barrel vaults have a strong presence both in Islamic and ancient Egyptian architecture. Inheriting earlier arch forms from the Greeks and the Romans, Muslims developed a variety of new shapes including the horseshoe, multi-foil, pointed and the ogee arches. The passion for this motif is due to the regularly

mystical/symbolic

meanings

associated with it, as well as its functional advantages, and used as a major structural and decorative feature. Given the hot Egyptian climate, we have decided to create a shaded perimeter colonnade around the entire building, giving it its distinctive character, but also framing the views of the landscape beyond.

We studied Islamic arches as a

precedent (earliest examples could be found in Syria and region) and imagined how this typology could be re-invented into a contemporary interpretation that would TOP \ MORTUARY TEMPLE OF HATSEPUT BOTTOM \ MOORISH ARCHES OPPOSITE LEFT \ STAGGERED ARCHES OPPOSITE RIGHT \ COLONNADE

Studio Seilern Architects

give a unique character to the building.

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2 1

SPACE DEFINITION WITH COLONNADE

PROGRAM ON WATER

CONCERT HALL CONFERENCE

PLAZA EL GOUNA FILM FESTIVAL

CAFE

SPACE DEFINITION WITH COLONNADE

1 STAND ALONE BUILDINGS ON WATER

2 INDEPENDENT VOLUMES

OASIS COURTYARD

The program is organised as separate islands in a lagoon

Indoors spaces are enclosed. Outdoors cinema remains at open sky

3 DEFINITION OF THE SPACE

4 AN OASIS GROWS INSIDE

The spaces are tied together with colonnades

The spaces are connected. Palm trees populate the courtyard

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Bridge 2

Lagoon

Bridge 1

Bridge 3

Planter Artist entrance/Reception 00-24 44.10 m2 Conference Room 01 48 seats 00-01 55.71 m2

Corridor 03 00-23 25.80 m2

Stair 02 00-25 20.75m2

Conference Foyer 00-04 60.76 m2

IT 300x400

Server Room 00-28 18.81 m2

COMPUTER ROOM AHU

HVAC SHAFT 1000X600

wall cavity- pipe passing

Electric Room 02 00-38 6.77 m2

Piano Storage 00-37 ##### m2

4 05

Artist

West SLL Lobby 00-22 5.50 m2

Cleaner Room 00-36 3.25m2

VIP Room 01 00-42 5.66 m2

STAND-UP PIANO

VIP Room 02 00-43 9.16 m2

SHAFT 600X600

VIP SLL Lobby 00-48 4.27m2

HVAC SHAFT 1220x2000

FCH

Mirror

Conference Room GR1 53 seats Bin store 00-33 13.93m2

HVAC SHAFT 600X1200

450

Changing Room M 00-35 15.95 m2

450

IT RACK 800X800

Tunnel exit 2500 x 2500 min 00-29 9.31 m2

Corridor 02 00-32 37.65 m2

Artist

Changing Room F 00-34 16.78m2

IT RACK 800X800

Electrical Room 01 5500 X 4000 m min 00-30 18.58 m2

ELEC SHAFT 800X800

SHAFT 1100X700

FCH HVAC SHAFT 500x500

Coridoor 05 00-55 19.42m2

Stair 12 00-07 14.91m2

IT RACK 800X800

COMPUTER ROOM AHU

STORAGE 1500

3.92 00-05 WC Dis

Bandmaster Room 00-41

FLOOR MOUNTED VENTILATION GRILLES +1.4m2 2.67m

19.81 m2

Lift Lobby 00-09 16.03m2

Fire Curtain

08 28.01.20

DEMI QUEUE PIANO

FOH Lift 01

00-08

+0.76

8.21 m2

WALL MOUNTED VENTILATION GRILLES 4.4m2

Concert Hall

Height 2.95m HORIZONTAL SLAB (LIGHT GRAY)

FOH

TIMBER RAISED FLOOR

BANDMASTER R. SLL Lobby 00-49 5.66m2

00-20

06 27.11.19 Issue Interim 05 27.09.19 Layou

STEINWAY MODEL D GRAND CONCERT

00-39

BOH Green Room 00-47 203.37 m2

HVAC SHAFT 950x1700

04 04.09.19 Layou

9.16m2 m2

GAS 600X600

Concert Hall Kitchen + Storage

FCH

SAG 006X006

Technical Room Stage Lighting

03 16.08.19 Plan -

00-40 8.56m2

02 28.06.19 Plan u

TIMBER RAISED FLOOR

00-56 118.44 m2

WALL MOUNTED VENTILATION GRILLES 4.4m2

01 19.06.19 Plan u

450

Cleaner Room 00-50 5.00 m2 Artist WC Dis F/M 00-44 3.97 m2

00 07.05.19 First i

Conference Room GR1 35 seats

Cloakroom

Artist WC F 00-45 4.09 m2

450

00-11 23.51 m2

450

Artist WC M 00-46 3.86 m2

FLOOR MOUNTED VENTILATION GRILLES 1.4m2

450

WC Male 00-16 15.23 m2

HVAC SHAFT 900x1900

Bench

WC Female 00-17 22.64 m2 Cleaner Room 00-19 3.50 m2

450

ELECTRICAL CLOSET 1200X1000

Foyer lobby 02

Corridor 01

00-14

00-15

20.05 m2

20.02

WC Dis 00-18 4.03 m2 51

IT CLOSET 1200X1000

450

Admin 00-51 16.62m2

450

East SLL Lobby 00-21 7.10 m2

HVAC SHAFT 800x2180

450

Dish Washing 00-52 21.48m2

Holding Cooler 00-54 6.18m2

450

Cold Kitchen Cooler 00-53 7.85m2

MOVEMENT JOINT

13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

450

FCH

17 16 15 14

+ 2.04m

450

Pass-Window

STAIR 03

ACOUSTIC JOINT INDICATIVE LINE

Bridge 5 Planter

MOVEMENT JOINT

Planter

20 19 18 17 16 15 14 STAIR 01

Bar

+ 2.125m

13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Main Foyer 00-13 638.69 m2

Planter Planter CAFE

Pool

00-06 111.60m2

450

Bridge 9

450

Bar Cooler

1500

KITCHEN 00-05 14.38m2

450

1500

Planter

450

Bridge 6

Lagoon

Lagoon Planter

Bridge 7

For C

07 19.12.19 50%D

Technical Room Audio Visual

00-12 137.28 m2 Stair 04 00-10 16.84m2

Plaza Slab on grade

Pool

PITCHED SLAB (DARK GRAY)

HVAC SHAFT 950x1700

505.97 m2 Foyer Lobby 01

Planter

IT SHAFT

SAG 006X006

4.07m2 00-06 WC Dis

MOVEMENT JOINT

Bridge 4 BPS

TELECOM SHAFT 400x200

Corridor 04 00-31 34.66 m2

Mirror

Conference Room 03 44 seats 00-03 53.64 m2

MFACP

Security control room 00-27 14.62 m2 G.C. 500X600

Mirror

Lift 02 00-26 7.50m2

HVAC SHAFT 800x800

4 05

Mirror

Conference Room 02 104 seats 00-02 99.62 m2

CCTV RACK IT RACK 600X600 600X600

STORAGE

Shaft 17m2

G.C. 500X600

Plaza Slab on grade

FIRE BARRIER

IT CLOSET 2000X1000

Planter

Bridge 8

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

Studio Seilern Architects

1. 100 piece orchestra stage 15

The stage generates the dimensions of the hall

2. Balcony pockets wrap around Balconies are an extension of the stalls in pockets keeping small groups of people. A large convex reflector occupies the ceiling

3. Acoustic Box A second box for acoustic reverberation covers the building

Overall geometry The top view shows how the circular stage at lower level extends in too pocket at balcony level and becomes circular again in to meet the reflector in the roof

NATURAL ENCLOSURES AS INSPIRATIONAL SPACES

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THE HALL TAKES THE LANGUAGE OF THE INTIMATE SPACES FOUND IN NATURE

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TOP \ EXTERIOR VIEW OF PLAZA AND CONCERT HALL BUILDING OPPOSITE \ ENTRANCE FROM MAIN PLAZA

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OPPOSITE \ OUTDOOR PLAZA RIGHT \ THE COLONNADE Studio Seilern Architects

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LEFT \ PHASE 1 COMPLETION Studio Seilern Architects

ANDERMATT CONCERT 26

Studio Seilern Architects

ndermatt Swiss Alps Development and BESIX is transforming the

traditional Swiss Alpine village of Andermatt into one of the world’s finest year-round destinations; boasting some of the best alpine and offpiste skiing facilities in Europe and fast becoming one of Switzerland’s largest resorts. Andermatt is a mountain village and municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. At an altitude of 1437 meters above sea level, Andermatt is located at the centre of the Saint-Gotthard Massif and the historical centre cross of north-south and east-west traverses of Switzerland. In the early 2000s, after a period of decline, Andermatt started growing again as a valid alternative to the famous ski resort destinations such as St Moritz and Gstaad. This new beginning brought in the area the need for new facilities to remark its role of new attraction pole in Swiss tourism. Andermatt’s new village square will host multiple hotels, residential and chalet facilities, and as part of this new development, Studio Seilern Architects was asked to provide a world-class concert facility to be located at its heart.

HALL

Location: Andermatt , Switzerland Area: 2341 m² Budget: 17m CHF Completion Date: June 2019 Client: Andermatt Swiss Alps & BESIX Acoustic Consultant: Kahle Acoustics Theatre Consultant: Ducks Sceno Structural Engineering: Suisseplan MEP: BESIX Landscape Design: Hager Fire Consultant: AFC Lighting Design: Michael Josef Heusi GmbH

Studio Seilern Architects

The project transforms an existing underground space that was originally intended to be used for conventions and events for the hotels nearby. Studio Seilern Architects proposed to lift a large section of the existing roof to double the effective acoustic volume up to 5,340 m3, increasing the total capacity to able to host 75-piece full symphony orchestra and a total of 663 audience seats. Raising the roof provided the opportunity to create a sculptural object within the new village and rethink the traditional notion of a concert hall as closed and inwardlooking space.

Studio Seilern Architects

LEFT \ BEFORE (7 METERS HEIGHT) RIGHT \ AFTER (13 METERS HEIGHT)

Studio Seilern Architects

Due to the planning parameters of the site, only a portion of the roof could be elevated, making the stage configuration awkward and undesirable. Therefore, a centralised stage concept was adopted to create a symmetrical space, to allow the right early reflections to travel through differing ceiling heights and side balconies. The origami configuration of the interior of the hall was devised with Kahle acoustics to create well balanced natural acoustics.

Studio Seilern Architects

The hall is required to be used for varied purposes with the flexibility to host different seating or event layouts ranging from an orchestral performance to a rock concert or a congress setting. The flexibility and ease of change between layouts are based on a retractable system that allows up to 9 rows stepped platform to disappear under the main balcony. In a few minutes, an intimate theatre in the round may able to transform into a 12 meters height open space washed by natural light. The current scheme enables the lower part of the room to be used for standing audience, banquets or exhibitions, while still providing seats in the balcony for seated people.

Studio Seilern Architects

Early

reflections

reverberation

are

necessary for providing excellent speech intelligibility, musical clarity, presence and a sense of being acoustically enveloped by the music. They will be provided naturally by the optimized interior topography of the hall that reflects the sound from the stage to every part of the audience. Surfaces such as the inclined balcony fronts and the sculptural timber ceiling wrap the space as a wave rising from the ground. This gives the feeling to the audience as if they are inside of a wave of music which is visually and acoustically enhanced by the interior geometry of the hall. In addition, the suspended acoustic reflector guides the sound from the musicians to arrive at the listeners with the necessary intensity, direction and time delay to create an involving and immersive acoustic experience.

LEFT \ HALL INTERIOR OPPOSITE \ SECTION AA 34

Studio Seilern Architects

By adding a glass façade, the concert hall is washed with natural light. The romantic idea was that in a winter concert, the audience would be surrounded by a whirlwind of snow, and in the summer surrounded by nature and sunshine. From street level, the acoustic reflectors are seen as floating over an empty space, like a sculpture that has been placed as public art. The passers-by can then see into the concert hall and indeed see an audience and an orchestra from the street, as a spectacle. SSA wanted to make the concert act as an active frontage to the pedestrian street, rather than the usually closed-off box that this building typology offers.

Studio Seilern Architects

G.W.ANNENBERG PAC 38

Studio Seilern Architects

any institutes of learning now seek to educate through self-

discovery, enabling students to consider what makes them who they are, so they may begin to take responsibility for their own development. The design for Wellington College’s new Cultural Quarter, consists of a new Performance Arts Centre and a 'cultural living room’, with the aim to provide a space where this approach to education can flourish, both through formal and spontaneous performances.

By situating the Cultural Quarter of the college between a dense forest and beautiful historic Victorian buildings, approaching students are met with a construction of charred wood that gives the impression of having emerged from the surrounding woods.

RIBA Regional Awards 2019 Finalist World Architecture Festival - Future educational projects 2015, Winner

Location: Berkshire , UK Area: Ph.1 2,262 m² Ph.2 3,512 m² Budget: Ph.1 £13m Ph. 2 £5m Completion Date: Ph.1 2018 Client: Wellington College Project Manager & QS: Thornton Firkin Theatre Consultant: Charcoalblue Structural engineer: Peter Brett Associates Landscape architect: TLG Landscape Design M&E consultant: Hydrock Acoustic Consultant: Bickerdike Allen Lighting consultant: Hydrock Fire Engineer: Buro Happold

Studio Seilern Architects

The site is on the edge of Bracknell forest, and adjacent to some important listed building. The circular shape also helped to integrate the building within this context, acting as a hinge connecting the modern and historic campuses. 40

Studio Seilern Architects

Attached to the auditorium SSA placed the new Cultural Living Room, a ‘public square’ between the campus and the forest which connects the Performance Arts Centre with the existing theatre. This space is not limited by its four walls, rather it is a public space that is vibrant, open, filled with natural light and inhabited by students and guest artists.

Studio Seilern Architects

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

SECTION

Studio Seilern Architects

MAIN AUDITORIUM

Designed with high-quality acoustics and efficient circulation in mind, this Performance Arts Centre is the venue for students to showcase their creative talents in a formal setting. The circular shape created a collegiate atmosphere, where everyone sees each other and allowed a closer proximity to the performance than a shoebox auditorium typically would. The auditorium balcony fronts have been designed as an evolving surface that reflects and scatters the sound to maximise the theatrical experience.

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effect’ of the existing theatre, caused by level differences in the terrain. This was tackled by providing a longer stepped ramp that softly winds around the circumference of the amphitheatre, not only creating an interactive approach but also a vibrant front to the campus. The main auditorium is clad in stained timber, sitting softly alongside the dark bark vernacular textures of the forest. By situating the Cultural Quarter of the college between a dense forest and beautiful historic Victorian buildings, Putting the circulation at the perimeter allows the building to sit softly and comfortably within the landscape, giving the perception that it gently hovers above the ground. Beyond the project brief, the auditorium of the Performance Arts Centre was to overcome the obstacle of the ‘sunken

approaching students are met with a building emerging from the surrounding woods. Despite its capacity, the scale of the building and its careful setting into the landscape does not overwhelm students and visitors.

CLADDING DIAGRAM Studio Seilern Architects

Studio Seilern Architects

THE CURVE THEATRE

he artistic mission of this theatre complex is to engage its activities

with the lives of local communities as a way to reach beyond the traditional idea of performance as a form of suspended reality and to elevate it into a form of knowledge.

The new facility is a theatre turned ‘inside out’, offering itself as a total resource for professional artists and community members to make and share the theatre experience. This is made possible by re-thinking the traditional notion of the architectural membrane for a building of this type.

Two auditoria with seating capacities of 750 and 350 people share a large stage that can be divided by ‘curtains’ or shutters achieving maximum flexibility. The design enables the stage to be opened up to both, or either, of the auditoria as well as to the foyer spaces and indeed the street. In this way, the theatre opens up to the city beyond.

Location: Leicester, UK Scope: Performing Arts Centre Area: 12,900 m² Budget: £61m Completion Date: 2009 Client: Leicester City Council / Haymarket Theatre Architect: Christina Seilern as Director of Rafael Viñoly Architects Structural Engineer: AKT Services Engineer: Arup Project Manager: Focus Consultants Quantity Surveyor: Turner & Townsend Theatre Consultant: dUCKS scéno / Charcoalblue Acoustic Consultant: Kahle Acoustics Lighting Consultant: Imagination Landscape Architect: Rummey Design Associates Contractor: Bovis Lend Lease

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SITE PLAN 50

Studio Seilern Architects

AUDITORIUM

THESSALONIKI CONFEX 52

Studio Seilern Architects

natural extension of the cityscape, the project provides an

extraordinary opportunity to create a new citizen-centric space for the city, in the great tradition of Ancient Greece. A modern, green agora, where the people of Thessaloniki can gather, learn and play. Building on the city’s long history as a centre of trade and commerce, we are reinventing the trade fair for a new audience, reviving its role as a vital part of the city, and extending its influence well beyond its boundaries. In a celebration of Greek history and landscape, we have imagined an urban forest; a lush, green park reconnecting mountains, city and sea, and reconnecting people with nature. Through critical thinking, innovative architecture and sensitive landscaping, we are transforming a haphazard collection of monolithic gray structures into a nature-filled piece of city. We place the park, our urban forest, first. Nature brings character and clarity to the place; freshness, clean air and clear views. In creating this space of calm, we encourage an ease of interaction and exchange. The buildings populate the landscape in a manner that is practical yet seamless. We have kept the more playful built elements, including the OTE Tower, the AAMTH and Esso Pappas Pavilion, drawing inspiration from these when designing and positioning the new buildings; capturing the excitement and awe of past years and re-framing it for a new era. Through iconic, intelligent and thoughtful design, we are proposing an exceptional, sustainable urban project that reflects Thessaloniki’s role as a great economic and cultural metropolis, and which embodies the city’s hopes and dreams for the future.

PARK

Location: Thessaloniki, Greece Architect: Studio Seilern Architects & ALA_A

Studio Seilern Architects

AERIAL VIEW

Studio Seilern Architects

MASTERPLAN

Studio Seilern Architects

THE BUSINESS CENTRE Uniting people, nature and place

RECLAIMING NATURE AND EXTENDING THE PARK Sector III is envisioned as an immersive forest in which architecture becomes incidental and complimentary. The Business Centre is designed as a series of buildings nestled within the forest, benefitting from natural shading. The Multipurpose Hall is sunken to provide equal access from the car park and the park above. Architecture becomes a delightful surprise, an artefact waiting to be discovered within nature.

INTIMATE INBETWEEN SPACES Envisioned as the epicentre of social life within the Business Complex, the plaza will be a lively cornerstone of the city, a living room for residents and students. The playful arrangement of the buildings creates rich interstitial spaces, ranging from the intimate to the energetic. All of these areas are shaded by tall pine trees, allowing the vitality of the ground floor retail to merge with the calm of the forest.

Studio Seilern Architects

AN EMOTIONAL VISITOR JOURNEY The foyer, at the same level of the underground venue, extends the potential of the entry experience. The approach through the park becomes an emotional journey via a sculptural staircase that maintains visual connections between foyer the forest at every level. A second entrance connects the foyer with the lower level parking to ease the approach for arrivals by car.

A JEWEL IN THE LANDSCAPE The bulk of the multipurpose hall is fully sunken to maximize the green area, but it is not entirely hidden underground. The foyer opens via a large skylight, like an archaeological site carved out of the rock in the middle of the forest. During the day it connects with the linear axis between the city and the ConfEx Park, while at night during show times it glows like a lantern between the trees.

Studio Seilern Architects

AN ANCIENT AXIS REVIVED BY WATER Studio Seilern Architects

Studio Seilern Architects

THE CONGRESS CENTRE A seamless sequence

AXIS PROMENADE FROM THE OTE TOWER TO THE AAMHT

THE EXHIBITION CENTRE MAIN ARRIVAL

Studio Seilern Architects

THE EXHIBITION CENTRE Under a canopy of light and shadow

OUTDOOR EXHIBITION AREA BETWEEN EXHIBITION CENTRE AND AAMTH

Studio Seilern Architects

THE CONGRESS HALL AS AN EXTENSION OF THE FOREST CANOPY The theme of the forest canopy and filtered light extends into the Congress Hall. A series of timber acoustic reflectors stream light and views, allowing glimpses of the Park from the interior of the hall. The pyramidal acoustic reflectors were inspired by the isosceles triangles between temples of Ancient Greece, positioning the hall in the continuum of great Greek public spaces.

Studio Seilern Architects

SHENZHEN CULTURAL CENT 70

Studio Seilern Architects

TRE

s new urban fabric are becoming too dense, the ecosystem of the city

needs to be repaired. We would like to introduce the greenery and water element back to the city. We created a quiet space in the middle of the city… a park or a mountain, inspired by the TangLang Mountains. The building is a series of raised landscaped plateaus; it levitates over a pool of water in its own reflection, creating a naturally cooled and green micro-climate. Fusion of landscape and architecture are at the core of the concept, where steel and glass exist in harmony with nature. This is not just a building, but a new cultural community at the heart of Shenzhen.

Location: Shenzhen, China Architect: Studio Seilern Architects Ltd Local Architect: China International Engineering Design & Consulting Co. Ltd

Studio Seilern Architects

Performance and activities

Circulation connection

Support

Exhibition

SUSTAINABILITY DIAGRAM

LEVEL 0 PLAN

LEVEL 3 PLAN

Evolves the idea of a lake

Shows the inter-connectivity

over which the building lightly

between the outdoor

hovers over its own reflection

auditorium, the studios and the artist spaces

Studio Seilern Architects

SECTION Relationship of the performing arts spaces and the landscape

LEVEL 4 (+49m)

PERFORMING ARTS (30,500）

-Artists Studios -Artists Outdoor Rehearsal Area

EXHIBITION/ STUDY (13,500)

SUPPORT (10,700）

LEVEL 3 (+37m) -Music Room -Choir Room -Open Space Amphitheatre

LEVEL 3 (+37m) -Logistics and Service Rooms x 2 -Administrative Management Room -Conference and Reception Rooms -Property Management Room x 2

The

building

series

LEVEL 2 (+26m)

LEVEL 3 (+30m)

-Dance Studio -Chinese Opera -Professional Studios

-Artists Studios

LEVEL 2 (+20m)

raised

-Cultural Volunteer Service Station

landscaped plateaus; it levitates over a

-Cultural Support and Operations Space x 2

pool of water in its own reflection, creating a naturally cooled and green micro-climate. Performance art, museum and support spaces are grouped into three distinct and

LEVEL 2 (+20m) LEVEL 1 (+15m)

-Art Book Reading Area

-Comprehensive Theatre

-Individual Study Room

-Cultural and Creative Base -Sinology Classroom

interconnected buildings.

LEVEL 1 (+10m) Art Exhibition Hall -Multimedia Interactive Digital -Culture Experience Area

It evolves the idea of a lake over which the building lightly hovers over its own

LEVEL 1 (+10m) -Art Book Exhibition

reflection. At a higher level it shows the inter-connectivity between the outdoor

LEVEL 0 -Comprehensive Theatre -Experimental Theatre

Support

-Black Box Theatre

LEVEL 0 -Multi-Functional Performance Hall

Performing Art

-Master Meeting Room -Assemblable Showroom

Performing Art Exhibition

LEVEL-1 (-5m) LEVEL-1 (-5m)

-Recording Studio

-Bus Terminal

-Archive Room

-Comprehensive Theatre

-Audio and Video Appreciation Room

-Understage

-Integrated Media Room

-Art Book Storage Area

-Car Parking Space and Loading Area

-Shared Storage Area -Storage Room -Theatre Loading Area

LEVEL-2 (-10 m) -Parking Area -Plant And Mechanical Room

EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC

Studio Seilern Architects

The undulating façades create a poetic dynamic of architecture and landscape. Every building function has its own outdoor garden, where rehearsals, performances or exhibitions can occur in a shaded and cooled environment.

Studio Seilern Architects

EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE INTERIOR VIEW AND ITS CONNECTION TO THE LANDSCAPE, THE BODY OF WATER AND THE CITY.

Studio Seilern Architects

ALULA MUSIC HUB 78

Studio Seilern Architects

The AlUl Music Hub this is not just about making a building for recording studios, but creating a new symbol for the Saudi music industry. Our approach is one of a contexturalist, enhancing the site rather than imposing oneself onto it. We were drawn to the virgin valley adjacent to the Habitas villas as the new site, due to its sheer natural beauty, its monumentality, and its shape: we have here a natural concert hall, with its rocks formation allowing natural acoustics of high quality. The site is connected to Habitas, and creates the opportunity for a building that is more than a recording studio: it will cement AlUla as a beacon for art, luxury and talent, building on the success of the Maraya Concert Hall, the Tantoora festival, and other cultural events hosted there. Our vision is rooted in creating a building that will not only be the first Music Hub, but will become a venue for other cultural events, such as art installations, outdoor concerts, or indeed weddings and private festivities. A gentle path cuts through the desert at the centre of the valley, revealing a building that is organised along a roof that follows the existing terrain of the valley, under which project rooms and recording studios are positioned for optimum acoustic performances. The building is not visible at a distance and is discovered as one journeys through the magic of the valley.

LOCATION: SAUDI ARABIA SCOPE: CULTURAL AREA: 3,500 M² Studio Seilern Architects

20 21 19

16 17 14

4 3

6 7

9 10 11

Studio Seilern Architects

1. PROMENADE 2. OPEN AIR AUDITORIUM 3. LOUNGE 4. SHALLOW REFLECTING POOL 5. BATHROOM 6. KITCHEN 7. PROJECT ROOM C 8. PROJECT ROOM D 9. VOCAL BOOTH A 10. VOCAL BOOTH B 11. PROJECT ROOM A 12. PROJECT ROOM B 13. STORAGE 14. BATHROOM 15. MACHINE ROOM 16. SOUND LOCKS A 17. CONTROL ROOM 18. SOUND LOCKS B 19. LIVE ROO 20. ISOLATION BOOTH 1 21. ISOLATION BOOTH 2 22. MUTLI MEDIA EXPERIENCE

AERIAL VIEW OF CUT THROUGH VALLEY CREATING A NEW PROMENADE OF DISCOVERY

AT DUSK, THE BUILDING TRANSFORMS INTO A VIBRANT VENUE, HOSTING MUSIC AND CULTURAL PERFORMANCES Studio Seilern Architects

Studio Seilern Architects

SSA Studio Seilern Architects

OUR NATURE

‘We aim to be innovative in everything we do’ We seek to make the complex, simple. Projects with multiple planning constraints, unusual sites and logistics, to multi-faceted stakeholder groups, these all form the backbone of Studio Seilern Architects’ (SSA) work. To pursue new and inventive solutions in response to each client’s needs. We do not adopt a house-style. Our clients come to us because we approach their requirements individually, each with a unique result. We operate to scale, not categorisation. We demonstrate our range both on the larger scale, multihectare sites and on the detailed elements of a boutique scheme; both are just as intrinsic. We do not set boundaries. It is the answer to the problem the brief represents that guides us. Good communication is the basis for the success on any design project and we understand the successful delivery of a project of this nature relies in the effectiveness of working as a team. SSA promotes a culture of learning and innovation. Our ability to share knowledge and ideas with our clients encourages continuous improvement within the design process ensuring our client’s requirements are met.

Studio Seilern Architects

OUR OFFICES

Our office was born in London in 2006 as a natural continuation of Christina Seilern’s directorship of Rafael Viñoly Architects London office. The establishment of the office was a response to our first residential project, the Gota Dam Home, designed in collaboration with Muzia Sforza.

With a first space in Notting Hill Gate, and our current home on Scrubs Lane, just north of White City, we have started and continue to practice as a West London architectural office with a global reach.

In the Spring of 2022, following our commission for a major project in Greenwich, Connecticut, we put our global aspirations into action and opened our second office in New York City. We are currently operating from Lower Manhattan, working closely with the local team in Connecticut, and

LONDON OFFICE

expanding our design philosophy in the United States and the Americas.

NEW YORK OFFICE Studio Seilern Architects

SSA SENIOR TEAM Principal, MARCH, RIBA, ARB, SBA Christina Seilern

Christina Seilern established London-based creative practice Studio Seilern Architects in 2006. Applying her unique style across a range of building typologies, geographies and scales she re-engages in an approach that carefully addresses each project from an in-depth consideration of the detail to the overall massing strategy. She tackles a range of projects from largescale city masterplans, down to the more intricate scale of furniture and light fitting design, both in the emerging and developed markets. Prior to establishing Studio Seilern Architects, Christina Seilern was the founding director of Rafael Viñoly Architects (RVA) and was responsible for key projects such as the Walkie Talkie in London, the Curve Performing Arts Centre in Leicester, Mahler 4 tower in Amsterdam, or Wageningen University Plant Research Centre in the Netherlands. SSA was established with the intent of continuing the strong design ethos developed during Christina’s time at RVA. Her diverse portfolio includes RIBA-award winning projects such as Gota House in Zimbabwe, Ansdell Street in Kensington, a world-class concert hall in the Swiss alpine village of Andermatt, award-winning Wellington College Performing Arts Centre in Berkshire, and Boksto 6 masterplan – a UNESCO heritage site in Vilnius, Lithuania. Christina is a frequent panelist and guest speaker both in the UK and abroad and is also a regular juror for the AR MIPIM Awards, World Architecture Festival, the RIBA EyeLine, LEAF Awards and PAD London. Christina grew up in Switzerland and then moved to the States to study architecture at Columbia University in New York (GSAPP ’96). She is very much influenced in her work by her early years spent in the mountains, connected to nature of awe-inspiring scale. Studying and working in the States in her twenties gave her a new perspective to scale and a bold approach. She was very much touched by the buildings of Louis Kahn and Eero Saarinen who combined poetry, simplicity of details, and clarity of thought throughout the projects, something that she tries to emulate in her own work. In 2022, Christina won the World Architecture News Female Frontier Award for Architect of the Year.

Studio Seilern Architects

ALBERTO FAVARO Senior Associate Alberto joined the practice in 2015 and since then he has successfully contributed to and led a series of projects, developing his knowledge and experience across cultural, educational, residential and mixed-use projects. He currently is leading the El Gouna Concert Hall in Egypt though the construction stages. Before joining Studio Seilern Architects, Alberto practiced in Italy and the UK for over 4 years. His work demonstrates a design led approach and critical thinking across different design stages. Alberto was an Assistant Professor at the University of Venice.

JOSE ROQUETTE Associate Jose joined Studio Seilern as an Associate in the summer of 2022, bringing over 15 years of experience in architectural design and project management. Originally from Portugal, Jose completed his architectural training in Lisbon and in Barcelona, Spain, where he continued to work as an architect between 2006 and 2008. He then moved to London, where he undertook more senior roles in architecture and business development. Between 2012 and 2016, Jose worked in Singapore as the Country Manager for the Lisbon based studio Saraiva + Associados, facilitating the practice expansion into the Southeast Asian market. Jose is a licensed architect in Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

BRIAN SEYMOUR Associate Brian joined the practice in 2022 and brings over seventeen years of experience in the Hospitality, Commercial, Retail & Residential sectors. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Multi-Disciplinary Design. Throughout his career, Brian has worked with prestigious international clients, catering for different cultures and fulfilling challenging briefs from the initial strategic and conceptual design and direction, through to completion. He is able to deliver each client’s conceptual direction within budget, creating professional and inspiring responses to briefs. With a wealth of experience in all stages of the design process, his approach to every project involves a strong conceptual, creative touch.

ARIS MINARETZIS Associate Aris moved to London and joined Studio Seilern in 2019, after completing his Masters in Architecture at Columbia University in New York City in 2019. Growing up in Greece and possessing a Greek license to practice architecture, Aris became involved in to design and implementation of the studio’s projects in Greece. He has worked extensively on the islands of Paros and Antiparos, most recently delivering a 700 sq m seaside residence. After three years in the practice, Aris began working on some of Studio Seilern’s projects in the US, where he had acquired his secondary degree in architecture. In late spring of 2022, Aris returned to New York to assist in opening Studio Seilern NYC to more closely oversee its projects across the Atlantic and expand the practice in the Americas. Studio Seilern Architects

CHARLES RICH Strategic Advisor & Contract Management Charles has spent over 50 years in the construction industry - 25 years in contracting with Costain and Wimpey, then 18 years ina design environment with Foster and Partners, where he was a partner and, since 2006, heading his own consultancy for architects and contractors. He has acted as a strategic adviser on contract management on all of our major projects. He facilitates our process with regular design reviews, both internally and with members of the sub-consultant design team, which include reviewing compliance with brief and cost plan, as well as the design. He reviews contracts, with both the Client and the Consultant team to ensure that duediligence is applied throughout all of the contractual elements of the project as it progresses. Charles is a Senior Lecturer in MSc BIM Management and BSc in Architectural Technology at Middlesex University.

CAROLINE LAMOND Finance Manager Caroline started working with the Studio in 2022, and was brought in to run the financial aspects of the business. Her role ranges from practice and project planning and sub-consultant business management, to payroll and invoicing. She has a wealth of experience of managing the finances of creative businesses including financial management – P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, budgets and forecasting, as well as bookkeeping, VAT returns, invoicing and multi-currency banking. Her previous roles have given her exposure to the investment sector, in addition to retail and e-commerce, and she has built and maintained relationships with suppliers and stakeholders alike.

ROBERT PARK New Business and Communications Manager Robert Park has over twenty years experience of working with architects. His first job was as a graphic designer, though later became a Senior Associate and Communications Manager at one of the UK’s top practices, before taking time out to study architecture as a theorist and designer. During his career Robert has acquired an expertise in design, presentation, research and communication for a wide range of projects. He has specialised in graphic design for architecture, architectural public relations, writing, business development and internal communications. He has given lectures, presentations, made site based installations, films and has written about architecture extensively, in an academic, professional and journalistic capacity.

Studio Seilern Architects