How do we inhabit movement?
This architectural design brief pertains to the creation of a new ballet dance school and cultural centre to be situated in Manchester, United Kingdom. The architectural design of the ballet dance school will incorporate a blend of hard and soft materials to create a visually striking and dynamic building.
The forms and shapes of the building are be generated from the fluidity of movement carving space from mass of the site. The internal movement patterns of the dance, which will be captured throughout the design process are interpolated and translated into a built visible form. This is achieved through the use of curving lines and flowing forms, creating a building that appears in motion. The internal spaces will are free flowing, with a rigid structure allowing for the building to change and evolve with the changing needs of the dancers and the community over time. Steel has been used to reflect these fluid movements, allowing the light to shine on different curvatures, showcasing each individual element.
The school will include performance spaces for the dancers to showcase their talents, and will be designed to be accessible to the public, creating an interesting dynamic of public and private spaces. This is also visible throughout the building with complex movements associated with the public spaces and softer smoother movements associated with continual dance and admin spaces. This will include the use of private training spaces and public functions such as a bar or restaurant. In summary, the architectural design of the ballerina dance school will be visually striking, dynamic, and reflective of the movement patterns of the ballerinas.