The ceiling of a drama studio in Milan is imprinted with inverted bubbles that house both spotlights and skylights.
Italian architects Franco Tagliabue of ifdesign and Pietro Bagnoli converted a former office building into the Zona K studio, which can be used for events and exhibitions as well as for drama rehearsals and performances.
The bubbled ceiling over the main hall is comprised of suspended cones that regulate acoustics, whilst concealing electrical cables and ventilation passages.
Pairs of fluorescent lights are hidden inside each of the cones, although only a selection of the bubbles double up as roof lights.
Furniture slots into the walls of corridors that lead from the hall to changing rooms, toilets, a canteen, an office and an entrance cafe at the front of the building.
Other stories about studios on Dezeen include an apartment combined with a choreography studio and a dance studio with the illusion of mist in the air.
Photography is by Andrea Martiradonna.
The following text is from Bagnoli:
Zona K
Scuola di teatro (Dramaturgy school)
This project deals with the renovation of a former workplace purchased by a director and playwright to establish a dramaturgy school.
The aim was to create a very flexible and neutral space able to accommodate at the same time events, exhibitions, concerts, courses, performances and lectures.
A spectacular hanging cones ceiling, modulating natural and artificial lighting, acting as an acoustic modulator and hiding impressive electrical and air passages, sets the tone to this vibrant place.
Client: Nuove Imprese Culturali (via Spalato, 11 – Milano)
Dimension: 320 sqm
Year: 2008-2010
Builder: CO.VE.RI. srl, Artec srl
Architectural Project: Pietro Bagnoli, Franco Tagliabue (Ifdesign) with Silvia di Vita, Ida Origgi, Chiara Toscani
Consultants: Luca Leo, Stefano Gervasi, Diego Borroni , Guido Scavini
Graphic Design: Fabiano Cocozza
It's great to see people having fun in architecture!
My only criticism would be the two columns breaking up the dance area. Care has (rightly) been taken to ensure a square dance studio but then it seems bizarre to break it up in this way. I'd like to see some elevations/context to see what the raised box is contributing to the design; and why the whole ceiling could not have been those lovely 'inverted bubbles'.
Nice scheme but seems a shame they didn't recess the column base plates into the floor?
that’s an echo chamber. it’s going to be noisy.
dance halls need to be noisy
I hate it when people are making funny poses in architectural pictures, the only thing worse is when people make funny poses in the team section of an architecture office website !
I love the ceiling and even its discontinuity that matches good with the technical details of the sliding walls-away.
The beauty of the small spaces is in the details ;)
nice cieling almost like a modernist gaudi
hefty base plates on those columns in a dance studio seems like a HUGE oversight, Im envisioning stubbed toes and dancers cursing like fishwives
Ah! A room with a place to hide the mistress.