Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – With stadium or auditorium feature
Patent
1995-06-05
1996-11-26
Wood, Wynn E.
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
With stadium or auditorium feature
52 66, 52 801, E04B 716, E04H 312
Patent
active
055773508
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to auditoriums of the amphitheatre type as used for concerts, theatrical, cinematograph and other public presentations.
A problem in the presentation of such performances is that, where they are presented in different cities, available facilities may vary greatly in physical layout and capacity. This may require modification of the performance or alter the artistic impression provided. The available facilities may be ill suited to the size of the expected audience, and usually do not combine facilities for all-season usage with the potential for an outdoor ambience.
An object of the invention is to provide an amphitheatre type auditorium providing standardized but widely adaptable facilities, suitable for all-season, all weather use, and capable of providing the ambience of an outdoor performance.
It has previously been proposed to provide auditoriums of this type having roof portions in the form of rotatable segmental leaves over a stage area, as shown for example in British Published Patent Application No. 2225360A, particularly FIGS. 13 to 15 showing prior art structures. All such structures have required a central pillar, which is highly undesirable if an audience is to have an unobstructed view of the stage.
According to the invention, there is provided an auditorium, comprising an amphitheatre having a seating area only partially surrounding a stage, a first fixed roof structure covering a majority of the amphitheatre area except for a segmental area above the stage, and second movable roof structure of segmental form movable between a first position in which it closes said segmental area, and a second position lapping the first roof structure and leaving said segmental area open, said movable roof structure comprising segmental leaves rotatable in opposite directions about a common pivotal axis between a first closed position in which the leaves abut and a second open position in which they underlay the fixed roof structure, the first and second roof structures both being part-spherical shells, characterized in that the fixed roof structure is supported only at its periphery, and the movable roof structure is supported at its periphery and by a connection to the fixed roof structure on said common pivotal axis, in that a vertical axis of a first virtual sphere containing the shell forming the fixed roof structure passes through the stage, and in that a vertical axis of a second virtual sphere containing the shell forming the movable roof structure coincides with said common pivotal axis and is located horizontally spaced from the stage so as to intersect the seating area of the amphitheatre, intermediate between the vertical axis of the first virtual sphere and the periphery of the fixed roof structure. The auditorium may include means to partition off, by radially and/or cirumferentially extending partitions, portions of seating area to provide amphitheatres of different capacities. Retractable panels forming a curtain wall may be provided behind that portion of the stage not surrounded by the seating area.
The above arrangement provides an all weather auditorium of flexible capacity which nevertheless is capable of providing an open-air ambience under suitable weather conditions.
Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an elevation of the auditorium in accordance with the invention, facing the amphitheatre, with its roof closed and the wall behind its stage in place;
FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the auditorium;
FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-section through the stage and amphitheatre;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the auditorium;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a lower seating level in the auditorium; and
FIG. 6 is a plan view of an upper gallery seating level in the auditorium.
The auditorium shown in the drawings comprises the following principal components; a banked amphitheatre comprising a seating area having a main seating
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Perrin, "Le dome de l'auditorium de Pittsburgh", Schweizerische Bauzeitung, vol. 49, No. 8, pp. 873-876 Dec. 1963.
"Retractable for All-Weather", Architectural Record, pp. 250-252 May 1959.
Giovine, "Moving Roof Covers Theater", Popular Science, pp. 130-131 Jun. 1951.
"Umbrella Theater", Popular Mechanics, pp. 132-133 May 1950.
Brisbin Brian
McCaffrey Felim
Sheffield Peter
Musicdome Ventures, Inc.
Saladino Laura A.
Wood Wynn E.
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