Masterpieces: Performance Architecture + Design

Really nice book for precedents.

Viewing this book as one who designs scenery and lighting for theatre as well as consulting to architects on the design of theatres, this book is a masterclass on how NOT to design performance spaces. Some great architecture, but I'm afraid that but for a few of the buildings, the performers and the physical requirements of productions, and in some cases even the audience, seem to have been barely considered. It's not enough to have impressive architecture and all the bells and whistles; if the relationship between audience and performer is not right, the building is a failure. Iain Mackintosh, in his excellent book 'Architecture, Actor & Audience', identifies many essential points on this delicate relationship that most of the buildings in 'Performance Architecture & Design' sadly appear to have ignored. Fortunately many of the projects are presented as conceptual drawings, so hopefully common sense will prevail...