The Oficina de Teatro in Coimbra is near the university site.
Built to support "Coimbra - Capital Nacional da Cultura" (National Capital of Culture), the urban image of the equipment is represented by the translucent materialization of the scenic space, accomplished by the covering of the frontage with transparent polycarbonate over opaque canvas.
The workshop should allow to present shows that couldn’t be presented in conventional theatres.
The scenic space is part of the showroom and allows a tight communication, as if the public was part of the show. The scene is represented in an open space, where the stage location is not defined.
Considering the total area of the room as continuous, the location of the authors and public is variable, allowing numerous combinations and different forms of organization.
There is a structure formed by quadrangular metallic suspensions, which correspond to the total area of the room. The suspensions’ points of fixation have power points that allow the plug of any kind of projector, stereo speakers and decorative elements.
Besides the central area designed for the shows, the left side of the building has a bar-foyer, stores, a rehearsal room and an antechamber that works as control room. The right side has a second foyer, an office, an exhibition room and an administrative area.
(in: L´ architecture d´aujourd´hui - Outubro 2006)
