* 자연이 무대가 되다[ Studio Gangamuel H. Scripps ] Theater Center

"대지를 가볍게 어루만져라." — 글렌 머컷(Glenn Murcutt)

Studio Gang-Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center

허드슨 밸리의 품 안으로
허드슨 밸리의 광활한 구릉지를 굽이쳐 오르는 길 끝에, 한 극장이 대지와 조용히 어우러져 있다. 멀리서 바라보면 완만한 곡선을 그리는 검은 지붕이 초록 들판 위에 낮게 앉아 있고, 그 너머로 허드슨 강과 허드슨 하이랜즈(Hudson Highlands)의 능선이 하나의 파노라마로 펼쳐진다. 스튜디오 갱(Studio Gang)이 허드슨 밸리 셰익스피어(Hudson Valley Shakespeare, HVS)를 위해 설계한 새뮤얼 H. 스크립스 시어터 센터(Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center)는 그렇게, 건축물이 아니라 경관의 일부로 처음 눈에 들어온다.

대지와 경관 사이
조경 설계를 맡은 넬슨 버드 월츠(Nelson Byrd Woltz)는 2020년부터 98에이커(약 39만㎡) 캠퍼스 마스터플랜을 주도하며, 서식지 복원과 시적인 도착 경험을 설계의 두 축으로 삼았다. 토종 초원을 누비는 보행로는 방문객을 자연 속으로 서서히 끌어들이다가, 마침내 허드슨 강의 전망과 웨이-갯(Wey-Gat, 원주민어로 '바람의 관문'을 뜻하는 지명)의 웅장한 절벽이 시야에 들어오는 순간을 연출한다. 14에이커에 달하는 신규 식재는 이 대지의 생물다양성을 되살리고, 극장으로 향하는 여정을 하나의 서막(序幕)으로 만든다. 무대를 마주하는 광활한 잔디밭에서 관객들은 공연 전후 강과 하늘을 벗 삼아 자유롭게 소풍을 즐긴다.

목재가 하늘을 받치다
건물의 중심에는 곡선형의 목재 격자 셸 구조체가 있다. 거대한 A자형 집성재(mass timber) 기둥들이 원형으로 무대를 감싸며 지붕 전체를 떠받치고, 지붕 안쪽으로는 따뜻한 색감의 목재 패널이 물결치듯 펼쳐진다. 원형의 조명 리그(lighting rig)가 공중에 떠 있어, 공연의 기술적 정밀함과 자연 소재의 온기가 한 장면 안에 공존한다. 451석 규모(약 6,800평방피트, 630㎡)의 관객석은 모두 프로시니엄 아치(proscenium arch, 무대 정면 개구부)를 향해 호를 그리며 배열되어 있으며, 이 아치 곁으로는 약 10,000평방피트(930㎡)의 지원 공간이 이어진다. 분장실과 그린 룸(green room, 출연자 대기실), 의상실, 사무공간, 매점, 공용 화장실이 이 공간에 함께 자리해 공연 제작의 전 과정을 하나의 캠퍼스 안에서 완성한다.

자연이 무대의 배경막이 되는 순간
스튜디오 갱의 가장 대담한 결정은 무대의 정면을 완전히 열어두는 것이었다. 프로시니엄 아치 너머로는 초록 들판과 허드슨 강, 그 위로 겹겹이 쌓인 능선이 실제 무대 배경이 된다. 황혼이 내릴 무렵, 관객은 무대 위 조명과 수평선의 노을이 교차하는 경계 위에서 연극과 자연 경관이 하나로 겹쳐지는 경험을 한다. 보미토리(vomitory, 관객 입퇴장 통로)를 통해 극장 안으로 들어서는 순간부터 이미 공연은 시작된다. HVS가 오랫동안 지켜온 전통, 즉 자연을 극의 일부로 끌어들이는 연출 방식은 이 건물의 건축 언어 안에 고스란히 담겼다.

대지를 가볍게 어루만지는 건축
스크립스 시어터 센터는 미국 최초로 LEED 플래티넘(LEED Platinum) 인증을 목표로 하는 목적 건축형 오픈에어 극장이다. 저탄소 대형 목구조재 사용, 옥상 태양광 패널, 빗물 수집·재활용 시스템, 그리고 생물다양성을 되살리는 토종 초지와 습지 복원이 이 건물의 지속가능 전략을 이룬다. HVS는 2040년까지 캠퍼스 전체의 탄소 중립 달성을 선언했다. 건축과 조경이 서로를 완성하며 예술과 환경을 동등하게 무대 위에 올리는 이 공간은, 자연을 배경으로 빌리는 극장이 아니라 자연과 함께 공연하는 극장을 향한 선언이다.

프로젝트 크레딧
건축 설계: 스튜디오 갱 (Studio Gang)
조경 설계: 넬슨 버드 월츠 (Nelson Byrd Woltz)
클라이언트: 허드슨 밸리 셰익스피어 (Hudson Valley Shakespeare, HVS)
위치: 허드슨 밸리, 뉴욕, 미국 (Hudson Valley, New York, USA)
규모: 극장 6,800평방피트(약 630㎡), 451석 / 지원 공간 10,000평방피트(약 930㎡)
캠퍼스 면적: 98에이커(약 39만㎡)
인증 목표: LEED 플래티넘 (미국 최초 목적 건축형 오픈에어 극장)
탄소 중립 목표: 2040년

Write by Claude & Jean Browwn

Led by the renowned architecture and urban design practice Studio Gang, the design of the Scripps Theater extends the theater's year round functionality, improves circulation across the campus, and enables a wider range of programming. Featuring a curved, timber-framed grid shell, the new theater provides improved rehearsal, performance, education, and amenity spaces; expanded accessibility for more diverse audiences; and technical additions that create new opportunities for Hudson Valley Shakespeare productions.

The theater's natural material palette and curved structure help the architecture integrate with the surrounding landscape. Positioning nature at the forefront of the theater's creative work, the stage's proscenium arch frames iconic views of the Hudson Highlands, creating the natural backdrop HVS productions are known for having. Adjacent to the 6,800-square-foot, 451-seat theater is an additional 10,000-square foot area with dressing rooms, a green room, wardrobe facilities, and offices, as well as separate spaces for concessions and public washrooms.

Beginning with a comprehensive master plan for the 98 acre site in 2020, landscape architects Nelson Byrd Woltz designed the campus around habitat restoration and a poetic arrival experience. Supporting HVS's commitment to integrating nature into the life of the theater, the campus design includes fourteen acres of new plantings that reinvigorate the site's biodiversity and draw visitors into the Hudson Valley landscape. Accessible paths wind through native meadows, arriving at sweeping views over the Hudson and the magnificent cliffs of the Wey-Gat ("Wind Gate") —a prelude to the theater. Ample picnic lawns face the stage and the river.

The architecture and landscape design work together to place both art and the environment center stage for generations to come. Integrated sustainability strategies, including the use of low carbon mass timber, rooftop solar panels, rainwater harvesting and reuse, and restored native grasses and wetlands that support biodiversity, have put the theater on track to receive LEED Platinum certification and to become the first purpose-built, open-air theater in the United States to achieve this level of certification. HVS is also committed to achieving carbon neutrality for its campus by 2040.

from archdaily