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Mumuth Music Theatre

Mumuth Music Theatre

Office / Name of ArchitectsUNStudio / Ben van Berkelwww.unstudio.com

Colaboraters

City / Country Placement Programme EditionGraz, Austria Shortlisted Cultural 2011

The building for the faculty Music and Performing Arts at the University of Graz, the MUMUTH Music Theatre, giveshome to a performance theatre with circa 500 seats, a foyer and dressing rooms. Faculty areas in the building containstudy- and rehearsal rooms for the students and offices for the faculty members. Other features in the building are ahigh-tech acoustic laboratory and a cafeteria, all incorporated into a building with a building site of approx. 2.745m2and a floor surface of 6.200m2.

Design concept

MUMUTH Music Theatre has a high multi functionality, adding different user programs and logistics within onebuilding. From the beginning it was clear that MUMUTH would be used by students as well as visitors for the theatre.The design is therefore oriented around the Blob-to-Box model, which consists of a spiral whose ends are interwovenwith its middle part. This generates the internal organization which is divided into two parts; The Blob gives shape tothe public spaces, including the foyer on the second floor, while the Box covers all other areas, including theperformance theatre. Because a spiral is used for internal construction, a column free spatial arrangement is created,

giving visitors a clear view across the foyer.

The design for MUMUTH Music Theatre is inspired by the interaction between architecture and music. The buildingcommunicates with its essence in different ways: The archetypal figure of the spiral has associated characteristics thatare closely related to music, such as rhythm, continuity, channelling, directionality, intersections. A musical pattern isapplied on the facade as well as the custom designed acoustic panels, which were especially developed to meet thespecific acoustical requirements of the music programme. The panels are adjustable, thereby meeting the acousticrequirements of the widely varied musical styles performed in the building.

Site conditions

The MUMUTH Music Theatre is located in de centre of Graz and plays an important role in the cultural centre of thecity. During the day, the facade is opaque, in correspondence with the closed, educational function of the building. Atnight however, the opaque facade becomes transparent, opening itself up to its surroundings and attracting visitors tothe theatre. This creates communication between a modern MUMUTH with classical music and neoclassicalsurroundings.

An analysis of the sustainable aspects of the work.

The double layered facade is made out of stainless steel mesh that filters daylight. This reduces the heat load of thebuilding up to 50%. The public areas contain a passive ventilation system in which cool air enters via windows on theground floor. It then rises through the building by natural heating and exits through the roof. The building is thus cooledwithout the use of air-conditioning.Furthermore, highly sustainable materials were used in de interior as well as the exterior of the building. The durableinterior design of the central foyer consisting of concrete, terrazzo and steel is adapted to the needs of an intensivelyused public building and limits the maintenance of the interior.

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The exterior of MUMUTH turns opaque by day Iwan Baan

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The spiral construction creates a column free space troughout the whole building Christian Richters

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At night, the theatre lights up and opens itself up to its surroundings and attracting visitors to the theatre. Iwan Baan

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The red carpet staircase follows the curves of the concrete spiral and gives a theatrical feeling to the performance theatre.Christian Richters

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The spiral connects the different spaces within the building. Iwan Baan

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The custom designed acoustic panels were especially developed to meet the specific acoustical requirements of the music programmeIwan Baan

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Floorplan of 2nd floor: Foyer and performance theatre UNStudio

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Floor plan of ground floor: Entrance lobby and multiple classrooms, dressing- and rehearsal rooms UNstudio