ABSTRACT
KEY POINTS: x Each member of an audience should clearly see a performance,
screen or speaker, as well as clearly hearing speech, music or sounds
x Auditorium design must consider audience comfort, fire safety, acoustic quality, sound insulation, sound systems, lighting, receptive atmosphere and access to technical equipment
x Stage and audio-visual technologies are constantly evolving
Contents 1 Introduction 2 Seating 3 Auditorium design 4 Theatre 5 Studio theatres 6 Concert hall 7 Conference halls 8 Cinemas 9 Multi-purpose auditoria
10 Support facilities 11 Facilities for people with a disability 12 Legislation
1 INTRODUCTION The three-dimensional volume of an auditorium is conditioned by the need for all members of the audience to be able to see the whole of the platform or stage; and to hear the actor, singer, musician or speaker, Figure 15.1. Seating density, floor rake and seating layout are partly determined by this, partly to give the audience an appropriate level of comfort and essentially to ensure a means of escape in an emergency, such as a fire, within the time required by safety considerations and by legislation.
