A recital hall in Provincetown

Abstract

This is a design thesis. The project is a recital hall seating one hundred twelve people in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The most important issues in the design process were: 1) how to spiritually prepare the listeners and musicians for a performance; 2) what polysensory qualities must the space have in order to support that preparation; and 3) what physical relationship between stage and audience best promotes an intimate exchange between performer and listener. Economic constraints usually preclude these issues from becoming serious design considerations for most contemporary concert halls. The absence of this kind of consideration typically leads to undesirable consequences for the audience, the performer(s), and for the music being played. This project proposes an alternative.