Tensile Fabric roof, Arcola Outside
The pandemic hit the theatre industry hard, operating through the pandemic became nigh on impossible. Many theatres took their productions online to keep operations running. Arcola Theatre in the heart of London’s Dalston, went one step further creating Arcola Outside, a brand-new outdoor performance space built from reclaimed materials just off the theatre’s Ashwin Street home.
BRIEF
Designed by multi-award-winning stage designer Jon Bausor, the vision for Arcola Outside was to build a 90-seater socially distanced performance space 60 metres from the theatre’s main building on Ashwin Street. ARC was approached to design, manufacture and install a tensile fabric roof with a conic shape to sit atop the theatre space like a big top canopy.
OUTCOME
We designed and engineered a bespoke tensile fabric roof that not only offered year-round protection from the weather, but also created a naturally ventilated covid – safe space for performances. The tensile PVC coated membrane was centrally supported by a telescopic mast, then connected around the perimeters by stainless membrane plates and cables with integrated gutter system and upstands.
Although the intention is to use the original building again, Arcola Outside will initially relocate all the Arcola’s public functions al fresco. It will be a flexible, multi-purpose space able to host live performances, screenings, installations and more.
” Working with Arc Structures was a joy from the outset. Andy was helpful and enthusiastic about the project particularly with a complicated process throughout COVID times. The brief required some very specific parameters that served the needs of a theatre audience on a very tight budget and space in the heart of Hackney. I’m really happy with the result- a beautiful space, that theatre makers and patrons have all been enjoying.”