San Francisco House of Music

CONCEPT
The proposed design is located deep within the heart of the GOLDEN GATE park, surrounded by trees and unique heritage. A Garden of sorts. The Garden can be likened to a lady being courted with a triad of suitors making their proposal to receive her approval.

With a key aim of merging the old and the new, performance spaces are upgraded through the use of innovative materials and technological advances to control sound reverberation for certain music types.
The recreation zones through a series of movement become the most important space within the building slightly displacing the theatre as seen in traditional opera houses. This space acts as both circulation and relaxation where different age groups interact. Relaxation zones are further quipped with musical stands and headsets for occupants to experience what I call “SHARED MUSIC”.

A new typology for the opera that serves as both learning and recreational facility is created. One that bridges the gap between ages through shared music while respecting the tradition and romance of the opera.

STRUCTURE & MATERIALS
The Beau is constructed out of reinforced concrete and has a shell frame cladded with brown terracota stone tiles. The material is native to San Francisco and blends with the existing material palette used in the surrounding context of the site. Openings and glazing are made with a variant of eco glass, a sustainable and efficient glazing solution that helps to reduce energy use within the building permitting daylight into the structure while maximising or limiting heat gains as required based on the thermal requirements of the building.

Slanted post tensioned columns run from the roof to the base of the building at the core supported by tubular steel diagonals and waffle slabs on every level. Acoustic wood is used on the ceiling and within the theatre to aid sound absorption and diffusion with spaces. Classrooms have flexible partitions made of absorption cushions specially made for music allowing the spaces to be used as test rooms also.