luna by alice studio hovers over an outdoor theater

‘luna’ by ALICE epfl/ enac/ la,  lausanne, switzerland
image © joel tettamanti / alice studio epfl
all images courtesy of alice

last year’s st. prex classic music festival enjoyed its new temporary structure and concert venue designed by alice (atelier de la conception de l’espace). the ephemeral modular form maintains an open-air atmosphere while providing the necessary coverage used for performances from musicians and dancers alike, and has the capacity of seating over 700 spectators. such a contemporary and radically different expression is part of a deeper research investigating the foreign object’s effect in the medieval setting. the massive white hemisphere goes beyond its practical functional expectations and creates an entire environment both underneath it and on the urban scale, with unique acoustic and light properties never experienced in the specific context. the base of the framework is supported by a circular space frame ring anchored at four points around a wooden seating area. the dome is an inflated semi-translucent textile element seated on the metal ring, allowing a soft glow of natural light to the seating area below while still blocking out weather conditions and direct light. the 2014 version will float into the air opening the stage entirely and reflecting the nature of its very name – luna.

entrance from the town
image © joel tettamanti / alice studio epfl

view behind the seating
image © joel tettamanti / alice studio epfl

swiss federal councillor alain berset writes:

‘music is materializing, quite literally, in saint-prex: it is taking the shape of an incredible globe,  known as luna, a sort of talisman cartoon bubble that hovers over the medieval old town, this amazing structure, developed by epfl lausanne, captures perfectly the spirit of the saint-prex classics festival. ‘by the light of its silvery luna (moon)’, music lovers will be cast into an enchanting world that escapes the confines of traditional concert halls. in this very way the festival breaks with the rigid, age-old settings that weigh on classical music. it is attracting a new audience that is intrigued by this explosive combination of appoggiaturas, of old stones and the silky cloth of a parachute. but the originality of the setting in no way overshadows the program: from nigel kennedy to anne sofie von otter, and not forgetting john malkovich, the festival is offering an enviable line-up to its public. the festival intrigues and seduces with its irreverent mix of genres. the festival of saint-prex combines the freshness of its debuting artists with the mature assurance of its regular performers. i wish it great success.’

entrance towards the town from the stage
image © joel tettamanti / alice studio epfl

seating under a large inflated hemisphere
image © joel tettamanti / alice studio epfl

image © joel tettamanti / alice studio epfl

a retractable red curtain provides privacy
image © joel tettamanti / alice studio epfl

image © joel tettamanti / alice studio epfl

image © joel tettamanti / alice studio epfl

illuminated at night, the dome reembles a low-lying moon
image © joel tettamanti / alice studio epfl

filled with spectators
image © joel tettamanti / alice studio epfl

image © joel tettamanti / alice studio epfl

modular construction assembled on site
image © alan hasoo / alice studio epfl

image © alan hasoo / alice studio epfl

floating dome visualized as a moon over the city
image © wynd van der woude/ alice studio epfl

image © tanuki/ alice studio epfl

image © tanuki/ alice studio epfl

image © tanuki/ alice studio epfl

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project info:

team: dieter dietz, sibylle kössler, sara formery, rudi nieveen
location: st. prex, switzerland
completion: annual ephemeral (first edition 2012, second edition 2013)