2025 Architecture Commission Online Meeting, September 19

1.0    ATTENDANCE

This meeting was held on-line via Zoom.
The following participated:

OISTAT Head Quarters:
    Hsi-Lun Tai    Taiwan
    Yi Shan Lai    Taiwan
    Wangjung Wei    Taiwan

Members and Guests:
    Janne Auvinen    Finland
    Johannes Böhner    Austria
    Richard Bryant    USA
    Kate Burnett    UK
    Aby Cohen    UK
    Reinhold Daberto    Germany
    Tim Foster    UK (retiring vice-chair)
    Peter Ruthven Hall    UK (vice-chair)
    Ula Hsu    Taiwan TATT (lighting designer and stage manager
    Louis Janssen    Netherlands
    Brad Kisincki-Apeiro    USA (Auerbach)
    Ciara Murnane    Ireland ISPD
    Torsten Nobling    Sweden (retiring vice-chair)
    Aleksandra Pesteraac    
    Mhora Samuel    UK
    Lian The    Netherlands
    Brad Ward    Head of Sound Design Commission
    Maaike Westinga    Netherlands (chair)
    Selma Goker Wilson    USA
    Jeong-Sik Yoo    Individual-Korea (retiring vice-chair)
    Mikio Ogawa    Japan

Apologies:
   Nil


1.0    Introduction

Maaike introduced the meeting and the topics for discussion, and welcomed new members Ula Hsu, Ciara Murnane and Brad Kisicki.


2.0    Election of Chair

Current Chair, Maaike Westinga was standing unopposed for re-election. 9 members voted. Maaike was returned as Chair.
Selma Goker-Wilson was introduced as a Vice Chair, with Peter Ruthven Hall returning for a further term. Thanks were given to retiring Vice-Chairs Tim Foster, Torsten Nobling and Jeong-Sik Yoo for their support over many years.


3.0   Turkey – Antique Theatres, Wednesday 16 to Sunday 21 OR 23-28 September 2026, to be confirmed

Selma introduced advanced proposals for the tour which she has planned with Tim Foster. She is working with travel agent Oasis Travel to coordinate the trip which will start with a dinner on Wednesday and conclude with a performance on the final day. Arrive Izmir airport (Wednesday) and depart Antalya airport (Sunday). The hope is to include diverse examples of Roman and Hellenistic theatres across Turkey including:

Ephesus
Priene
Hierapolis / Pamukkale
(stop at Tim Foster’s House)
Phaselis
Perge
Aspendos including a festival performance at the festival (programme yet to be announced)

See the map, outline costs and details on OISTAT AC Basecamp. Please show your interest on the Excel matrix! 27 places are available. Participants would fund their own travel to and from Turkey with a charge made for guide, coach, hotels and entry tickets. Cost for tour operator around $1,000-$1,150 depending on single/double rooms with dinner and performances extra. 12 members have expressed interest.
Deposits need to be paid to secure the guide and to reserve the best hotels. Details to follow.


4.0    Presentation by Selma Goker-Wilson on saving Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Florida, USA

Selma introduced her study and proposal to reuse and refurbish the hall and some of the problems encountered when negotiating with the City Authority. A new building with 3 halls (2,400 seats in the largest) by Renzo Piano is over-budget ($40m) and delayed so the existing needs to be reused in the meantime. Capacity under 2,000 seats (1,800) makes it troublesome for touring shows. Making it complaint is an unwanted small but extra investment ($5m) and much needed for continuity of operation.
Reinhold and Tim offered guidance and advice on commercial and cultural context.


5.0    Presentation by Brad Kisicki from Apeiro on La Pearle Project in Dubai, UAE

The company Apeiro comes from the former Auerbach Theatre Consultants.
La Pearle is a single use building for a Franco Dragone (ex Cirque) concept, initiated from scenographic renderings in 2012.
60m cube constrained by neighbouring buildings.
1300 seat circular thrust, water show with acrobatics aerial show
Huge loads, mass concrete perimeter columns 9m trusses suspending high level accommodation, awkward geometry for a yet to be formulated show.
Opened in 2017 and has been running for 8 years. It has been re-tooled often.
Come and see it on the tour arranged for WSD in Sharjah.


6.0    Presentation by Johannes Böhner on the Neu Buhnen Frankfurt: opera house and theatre

Johannes has worked on Musiktheater in Linz, and is a Bayreuth-based theatre consultant.
He introduced the masterplanning for the new opera house and playhouse.
Nearby are the Old Opera which was was rebuilt as concert hall after the war and the old Schauspielhaus which is rumoured to be rebuilt. Nut a new opera house and playhouse are proposed with the location and placement currently being assessed.
Johannes will continue the presentation in later meetings.


7.0    Presentation by Brad Ward on Transcendent Renaissance Performance

Head of Sound Design Sub-commission
Introduced the series of events in World of Sound at WSD 2025 including a Sound tour of La Pearle on Saturday 25 October.
Designing sound for an immersive audio environment performance created in the dessert to the east of Sharjah at Mleiha Archaeological Centre 22-23 October at 20.00; details:




8.0    Enquiry from Mr.h Abediny mrcinemaee@gmail.com requesting assistance (June 2025)

It may be that no one has responded. Maaike recirculated the enquiry e-mail.


9.0    UK Meeting in Manchester and Liverpool, 2-6 July 2025

Mhora Samuel’ article on the visit is made available on OISTAT Basecamp. It was a successful visit taking in iconic theatres in the region.


10.0    Sharjah World Stage Design, October 2025 - Interdisciplinary Workshop

Please download the app and book direct if you plan to attend WSD.

The provocation for the design charette will be from Jenny Hall, an architect and artist based in the UK.

Two-day Tour of theatres in Sharja and Dubai
The tour has been confirmed for Sunday 19 and Monday 20 October. Places have been booked. A charge of around €200 is being made. [FULLY BOOKED]




11.0    Future Online Meetings and Presentations

Friday 12 December 2025 15.00-17.00 Central European Time.
Presentation by Marcello Zagaria on TTB Bergamo renovation
Presentation by Reinhold Daberto on Kabuki Theatre Performance
New presentations of work are always welcomed.


12.0    OISTAT Executive (not discussed, but still going)

Please note the following actions are important for your continued participation in the Architecture Commission:

•    Commission Members
All members are requested individually to fill in the form.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwnh0KWShYn0VJUfVArgqnMjV7z0MTalrT8n539tOXfFIyog/viewform

•    History of Architecture Commission
AC has been asked to write a short history about the Architecture Commission. Long standing member and past chair, Tim Foster will begin the process and others can then contribute.


13.0    Finding new AC members

Please continue to spread the word and invite colleagues and other interested individuals to participate in the online meetings and AC activities. Also, when joining a theatre visit, please invite younger colleagues to join you. Proposed theatre visits should be popular with a wider community.


14.0    Future Meetings and Activities

•    2026 Greek and Classical Antique Theatres in Turkey

•    2027 Finland
Janne hopes to offer a meeting in Finland.

•    2027 Bergamo
Marcello hopes to offer a meeting in Bergamo.

•    2028 Dutch Tour
Maaike would like to reorganize this tour postponed from 2020.

Suggestions to increase participation are always welcomed so please assist by raising the profile of the AC in your own country. AC activities are open to anyone with an interest in theatre buildings.

Notes compiled by Maaike Westinga with Peter Ruthven Hall (from the recording).
For questions, suggestions or to schedule a presentation:
ruthvenh@gmail.com / maaike@tenbraswestinga.nl


Reference:

OISTAT Use of Basecamp
Selma has uploaded three instructional videos explaining how to use basecamp.
Please accept the invitation to join, sign in, and create a password.
Please set up your own page and add a photo under personal profile and save.
Under ‘notifications’ choose the frequency of e-mails and info you receive.

‘Home’: will lead you to Architecture Commission activities and ‘Projects’
•    Message board – communicate with your choice of commission members
•    To dos – reminder
•    Docs  & Files – Minutes of meetings – and discussions about these
•    Chat
•    Schedule
‘Knowledge Sharing’
-    Resources – submit a paper for sharing, create a link and share
Lineup – timeline
Ping – private conversation with one individual
Hey! – wider OISTAT communications
Activities – explains who did what when
My Stuff – reminders and things you did
Find – search
Button ‘XJ’ = jump to other pages (a shortcut menu)
When you upload an item make sure its title is clear so it can be searched. Add your name, date of origin (may be different from the date uploaded) and what is included.