Customer Reviews

Buildings for the Performing Arts, Second Edition: A Design and Development Guide

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Appleton's book is an altogether excellent "graphic standard" for the design of all aspects of a building devoted to the performing arts -- from auditoriums to lobbies and beyond. As an architectural thesis student designing a theater, the book became an invaluable resource to me.

The book contains a numerous amount of information for programming a theater. While it is not an exhaustive list it is good for getting a project started! I have used it on the initial phases of my thesis. No complaints here!

This is a very good guide to designing performing arts facilities. The text is well organized, and bulleted lists, section headings and short chapters make the information easy to digest, despite the slightly dense writing style.

Part 1 describes different types of performances, clients and buildings. It includes approximately 30 pages showing real buildings as examples of the many different building types; each example is illustrated with photographs and plans. Part 2 describes the design process, focusing on the initial stages of working with the client(s) and developing a concept.

Part 3 examines specific aspects of the design, including the size and shape of the stage, acoustics, row spacing, sight lines, backstage areas, lobbies and box offices, and more. A special chapter addresses the adaption and renovation of existing buildings. Each detail is illustrated with clear diagrams.

Recommended for architecture and interior design collections.