Esplanade

Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is a

waterside building located on six hectares of
waterfront land alongside Marina Bay near
the mouth of the Singapore River, purpose-
built to be the centre for performing arts for
the island nation of Singapore. Taking its
name from the nearby Esplanade, it contains
a concert hall which seats about 1,600 and a
theatre with a capacity of about 2,000 for the
performing arts

The building was designed by two architect ural firms working in conjunction: by
DP Architects (DPA) of Singapore and the London-based Michael Wilford &
Partners (MWP) and depicts a durian fruit. The design consists of two rounded space
frames fitted with triangulated glass
elements and sunshades, which balance
outward views with solar shading. The
external shading system is responsive in
that the triangular louvers adjust during the
day to the suns angle and position. A
secondary sun shading lattice is used with
folded sun shades' which gradually transform in shape and orientation. The resulting
dynamic and ever-changing mesh of dappled sunlight and shadows has given this
world class performing arts venue its distinctively Singaporean personality.
There are different orientations in the
building resulting in different layout of
cladding system concentrating on the
theatre hall and foyer. Theater hall axis is
almost aligned roughly in north south
while the axis of concert hall is parallel
approximately to east west direction.
Arrangement of reactive component
serves two purposes, maximizing views
from the interior and keeping out much of the
direct sunlight from exterior. In the case of
theater hall, the widest sections of the Foyers faced north and sunshades are arranged
diagonally to protect from vertical mid-day sun. And this arrangement opens up the
view from foyer and gently closes up when the surface reaches to the side as on the
side there is no interior space. The choice of diagonally configured grid can achieve
smooth transition from opening to closing then back to opening without changing
direction. In the case of concert hall, the path of the sun is roughly parallel to the
axis of the hall. The direction of the sunshade has to change direction from short
axis. The reason why it cannot make transition by closing and opening up gently is
one the south flank side there are extended foyers from each circulars of concert hall.
It is intended for the visitors to enjoy the view of marina bay. With the constraints
above, the direction has to be changed also on the long axis.