The open air theatre by Studio Akkerhuis uses bamboo and ropes

Studio Akkerhuis designed a mobile bamboo theatre somewhere between a small amphitheater and a bedouin tent, a compact space reminiscent of a nineteenth century travelling circus.

Studio Akkerhuis, Bamboo theatre, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 2017

Studio Akkerhuis was called to build up a mobile stage for a theatrical production organized by the Kunstklank cultural association in Noordwijk, a seaside resort near Leiden in the Netherlands. The open air structure can be mounted and dismounted in various locations and provides protection from rain during the perfomances. The materials used are primarily natural and can be assembled in different configurations by volunteers.

The concept was to create a compact space, somewhere between a small amphitheater, a bedouin tent, a yurt and reminiscent of a nineteenth century travelling circus. This has resulted in an intimate space for 250-300 people, with a diameter of only 20 meters. All the members of the public were never further than ten meters from the center of the stage. The public is seated on 21 tribunes, that could accommodate 22/24 people each. Three of these were reserved for an orchestra of 14 musicians.

Studio Akkerhuis, Mobile bamboo theatre, Noordwijk, 2017
Img.12 Studio Akkerhuis, Mobile bamboo theatre, drone view, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 2017

Bamboo was chosen as the main building material since it is a naturally grown material, lightweight and strong, affordable and easy to replace. The entire construction of both tribunes and cover was assembled from singular bamboo elements, connected mainly with ropes for the tent structure, and bolts for the tribunes. The elements never surpass a length of 5.8 m so to fit into a shipping container for storage. Each individual element could be carried by one person for a total of nearly 5,800 individual bamboo poles from four different species and diameters.

Project:
Mobile bamboo theatre
Concept:
Maurits van der Staay
Project architects:
Maurits van der Staay, Florian Bolle, Luca Salerno
Construction management:
Dennis Schneider, Sylvia van Stijn-Beukers, Florian Bolle, Luca Salerno
Engineering:
Tentech Utrecht: Julia Schönwälder, Rogier Houtman, Harmen Werkman
Stage design:
Tom Verheijen, Eli van Hooff, Wessel Snoek
Metal works:
Hametec Montfoort, Hans Lekkerkerker
Cover sails, windscreens and ties:
Zeildoek Montfoort, Rikkert Hoogenboom
Groundworks on site:
van der Putte, Noordwijk, van der Wiel, Noordwijk
Bamboo:
Bamboo Import – Melger Hulsebos, Stéphane Schröder

Latest on Architecture

Latest on Domus

Read more
China Germany India Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Sri Lanka Korea icon-camera close icon-comments icon-down-sm icon-download icon-facebook icon-heart icon-heart icon-next-sm icon-next icon-pinterest icon-play icon-plus icon-prev-sm icon-prev Search icon-twitter icon-views icon-instagram