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Virginia Tech

On Dancing with Architecture

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

"I would like to - sometime - build a theater which has natural light..." Louis I. Kahn "Space and the Inspirations" 1967 Titled "On Dancing with Architecture" and in reference to Merce Cunningham's choreography, this thesis project is the notion of overlaying architecture as a third autonomous layer to the existing ones in the performance arts that are dancing and music. Since the project is equally concerned with the performers and the audience as well as with the general public, it shall contain a nonstandard performance stage for modern dance as well as general public space. However, what does it mean to give shape to the notion of "Dancing with Architecture" in actual physicality? In order to investigate an appropriate answer to this problem, the project offers a unique opportunity of applying architecture's power of representation in rich analogies and metaphors. Therefore more than designing just a theater that serves for dance, this space shall be a place that, in its appearance as a whole and in detail, represents the tale of its initial challenge and investigation. In addition, and as part of being a nonstandard stage for modern dance, the project shall critically review conventions in stage space and offers the opportunity to investigate it under a different scope, for instance through the question of how to increase the spectator's spatial experiences and interactivity with the performers, or through exploiting natural phenomena such as daylight, wind, water, landscape, time and gravity as stimulating factors to introduce new facilities in modern dance.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Architecture
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Architecture
Department dc:contributor.department
Architecture
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2004

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Lorenzen-Schmidt, Timo
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Emmons, Paul F.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Piedmont-Palladino, Susan C.
  • Frascari, Marco

Subjects

dc:subject × 6

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-07202005-202406
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/34078

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Lorenzen-Schmidt, Timo. On Dancing with Architecture. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/34078