With the amount of stimulus in present day society, anxiety appears very prevalent, while boredom seems much rarer. Interestingly, both of these seemingly unpleasant emotions have been shown to aid productivity and creativity. There is a point of ‘optimal anxiety’ outside our ‘comfort zone’ found by psychologists Yekes and Dodson, and in other studies boredom’s use has been found to be in allowing the mind to wander.
These aspects were explored in the context of a Performing Arts Centre for the university’s curriculum and extracurricular dance and drama students. Programmatic requirements included classroom rehearsal spaces, two theatres (small and large), a projection room and storage.
With the recent demolition of the Maidment Theatre, the students are lacking specialist facilities, and lost a connection with the rest of the university and greater public. This project brings the Arts into the heart of the university, aiming to break down the barrier between the Performing Arts and the rest of the university community while providing for the performers on campus.
Team:
Iman Khan | Victoria Gancheva | Djordje Nikolic | Daven Chen
