THEATERS IN VIETNAM – A French Theater Designer Point of View

Posted on July 15, 2020July 23, 2024 by sla_main_admin

THEATERS IN VIETNAM – A French Theater Designer Point of View

As designers specialized in theaters and performing spaces based in Vietnam, we have been visiting and scouting a number of theaters and performing art spaces in the country for over five years now. We have been also meeting and exchanging with various professionals of the entertainment industry such as show directors, technicians, event organizers and investors.

Together with our French expertise background in theater design, we have a strong creative and technical knowledge in theater and performance typologies, which gives us a specific point of view to analyze the current situation of theaters in Vietnam, and propose the specific answers that could be developed in this context.

This article is then a way to share our brief analysis and directions that could be developed in Vietnam.

THE SITUATION

The most famous theaters in Vietnam are certainly the Hanoi Opera House (600 seats) and Saigon Opera House (800 seats), both parts of the heritage with a long history of different uses and renovations. Today both operas would deserve a deep renovation but the investment for such building is costly because the theatre equipment and backstage areas are less and less operational, while the theater equipment are high technology imported products that also require a strong operation and maintenance budget.

Saigon Opera House (Photo collection)

We had tested many other theaters and then realized that there are many issues from the audience’s point of view, with average quality of sightlines and acoustic, which is crucial to enjoying performances such as drama, dance, or music. From the performers’ and technicians’ side on stage and backstage, the issues are about access and set up, for which they have to readapt their set to each theater on their tour. This is also crucial for productions that are careful about choosing theaters where their set can fit to perform as planned and without extra cost.

Countdown Concert 2020 on Nguyen Hue Street, HCMC (Photo thegioinghethuat.com.vn)

We also noticed that in most of the popular music big-scale concerts, over 2000 seats are mostly outdoor, with temporary and removable setups. This type of installation for only one concert is very costly to set up, which can explain the high ticket price, and dependent on the weather with huge financial impact in case of cancellation mostly during the rainy season.

Recently, we also observed that several major groups implement large-scale multimedia shows that reveal several issues from our point of view which are firstly the problem of scale between the numbers of seats around 3000 and what happens on stage which is actually not scaled accordingly. Also in terms of strategy, the budget is mostly invested in the equipment, while the part dedicated to content creation is not valued enough, whereas it is more vital than the equipment for a successful show.

The Hoi An Lune Center for Performing Arts (300 seats) is a good example of cost-efficient and still iconic theater, with popular shows that are still touring all over the world, thanks to the passionate creators and the clever investors that make it happen.

Lune theater in Hoi An (Source: Lune Production)

Proscenium and Black box theaters (Photo collection)

THE NEEDS IN VIETNAM

We often hear that we should have new operas in Vietnam, however we need to be careful with terminology as it not only refers to a specific theater typology, but also to a certain type of performance which is one of the most expensive, requiring in-house production and set design as well as extensive maintenance workshops, resulting in an important operation cost. That is why we proposed a transformable opera in Ho Chi Minh City that can be used on a daily basis as well as for tourist purposes, offering cinema and panorama configurations as well as more revenue to balance the maintenance budget.

Besides the classic opera theater, many other typologies have been developed in the U.S. and Europe since the ’70s, with one of the most popular called Proscenium multiform theaters which are the most used for international tours by many companies for drama, dance, circus, musical, opera… The program of such theater also usually includes a secondary auditorium called a black box that can welcome more intimate performances in many kinds of stages/seating layouts.

In terms of music and concerts, we believe that there are missing places in the country’s major cities, particularly in Pop, Hip Hop, Rock, and other genres. This type of performance space can range from 400 to thousands of seats, but it does not require the same expensive machinery as the previous opera or proscenium type, and it must be carefully designed regards to scale, flexibility, and acoustics to accommodate different music shows almost every day.

Auditorium of Ho Tram Amphitheater (SLA Designers)

We also believe that the hospitality industry can affect changes in theater typology, because visitors and guests expect to be entertained when they travel, and they are increasingly demanding high-quality shows. In this field, we are currently developing several “Eatertainment” projects, which are a combination of F&B and entertainment, such as cabaret or food court theater.

Spice Route theater in Hoi An – Eatertainment (SLA Designers)

This type of program requires serious planning and gathering all expert in theater design, production, and the food industry, but the final products delivered to the guests is highly valuable to attract visitors.

Back to the historical operas, we imagine that they should should be renovated with a focus on welcoming classical music concerts, which means that the expensive machinery would no longer be required, but the acoustics and audience comfort should be thoroughly re-considered, combined with a new urban design environment to give these operas full of historic majesty.

Hanoi Opera House lighting design (SLA Designers)

THE RIGHT PROCESS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

Buildings for performances require the collaboration of architects and theater design consultants, as well as acoustic, video, audio, and stage lighting engineers, who must work closely with the investor, operator, and users. The theater designer consultant ensures that all parties communicate effectively in order to provide a functional theater for the performers and technicians who use the venue, as well as an excellent experience for the audience.

Even before the architecture, the theater designer is usually called to define the needs (type of performances, capacity), programming (type of theater, equipment), and budget (construction and operation). From our experience in Vietnam, we realized that a lack of preparation impacts the entire development process, with a lot of time consumption testing different options and confusion about the impact on the venue’s operation, all the way until the bidding period, when it’s time to review for budget, safety, and operational reasons. Concerning safety, we observe that the regulations governing theater buildings must be reviewed and updated to reflect the new evolution of space and equipment used in contemporary theaters.

Performing spaces reach their final destination when they welcome performances, which require professional technicians, show productions, and operator teams. In Vietnam, these would involve the development of dedicated training in specialized schools, national funding support of production, and professional operators that can manage international co-production because, in the end, spaces for performance and the performing arts are linked, one and others will grow only by being together.

— Cyril Lamy, Founder & Creative Director of SLA Designers

SLA Designers is an international creative agency with tailored expertise in Scenography, Lighting and Theater Design for hospitality, entertainment, and cultural projects.

IMPORTANT FACTORS FOR A BESPOKE LAMP

SLA Designers have been facing many issues about bespoke decorative lighting that do not satisfy the interior designers’ expectations, the investors’ budget, or the lighting standard requirements.

Our analysis of this situation is that the technical development is being placed under the responsibility of the suppliers based on a concept provided by the interior designer, usually a 3D render with general dimensions and main materials. While as lighting designers, our task only consists of the light bulb specification, which is obviously a weak process because we are responsible for the lighting design but not in charge of elaborating and advising to improve the design and technology of the decorative lamps.

Creating a bespoke lamp requires specific skills combining aesthetic, lighting, and engineering approach, but the process to achieve a qualitative product and proper lighting effect is misunderstood and underestimated by our collaborators and clients. It is why we advocate being involved in product development for providing proper detailed documents to the manufacturers and delivering a professional product that will fit the design, the light, and safety regulations. We look forward to seeing the trends to pass the bespoke lighting design mission to a lighting expert becoming more popular and being considered essential.

Here are the main aspects that we consider for our bespoke lamp product studies:

Aesthetic and Design Accuracy
Light Source Technology
Safety and Responsibility
Ergonomic and Maintenance

SLA’s bespoke design for a decorative table lamp in our lighting series called Chapeau

AESTHETIC & ACCURANCY

Bespoke lamps should match the concept in terms of aesthetic and lighting effects to illustrate the storytelling of the whole project, which is very important. This way of approach is only successful when the bespoke lighting designers work closely with the project designers and the client to understand and exchange ideas, give pieces of advice on materials used, or follow up on the affordable budget for producing the lamps, this task is crucial and needs to be missioned to a professional lighting designer.

Decorative and task lighting are synchronized with different scenario for the optimum of guest experience

APPLIANCE UP-TO-DATE TECHNOLOGY

Light technology evolves a lot since the light bulb, even LED bulb, and we now have multiple options for an integrated customized light source for decorative lamps, particularly accurate for hotels. As lighting designers, we always think of the optimal experience for the users and bring delicate value to the projects. Decorative lighting is always an impression whether it is a huge glass pendant light in the hotel lobby or a bedside table lamp, when it is a decorative object, it catches attention. The technology used for the bespoke lamp cannot be underestimated because the lighting effect itself contributes directly to the common scenes of the environment. The lighting effect from every decorative or functional light needs to be able to expose its function and also merge.

SAFETY & RESPONSABILITY

We are aware that industrial design for lighting products requires high knowledge about materials’ performance with electricity, heat, and light. It comes to a serious safety engagement for tailor-made lamps in the operation process for hotels and resorts guestrooms. Accident consequences involve origin and quality certificate inspection, but who would take responsibility? Would it be the developer, the interior designer, the hotel operator, or the contractor? We should start thinking about this safety and responsibility for the advantage and the welfare of everyone involved.

ERGONOMIC & MAINTENANCE

A decorative lamp has to tolerate high manipulation from the users and for maintenance. This aspect of the product is a crucial section for hotels since it can be an issue to fix the lamp monthly or even weekly as it has not been designed for a highly demanding environment. Lighting designers are aware of this aspect and take into account these constraints of manipulation by the users and the durability target.

SLA’s sketch for the bespoke pendant lamp of Chapeau lighting series

At SLA Studio, besides architectural lighting design service, we also offer lighting design for bespoke lighting in various fields including Hospitality, F&B and Nightlife, Park and Urban, and Entertainment. Whatever we do, we aim to contribute our knowledge, our creativity and build up the true value for our client’s projects.

Credits:

SLA’s Chapeau bespoke decorative lighting series
M Gallery Hotel, Vietnam

LIGHTING POLLUTION IN WATERFRONT CONTEXT

As creative lighting designers, we extremely concern about the nighttime environment context, which is very variable from one site to another, particularly when we are involved in seaside projects. The seaside night environment is not uniform; therefore, it can split into at least three zones, from the last point of view on the water until the waterfront, the contact point with a large horizon, and the great spot to enjoy the sunset and starry night. Thus, as lighting designers, we aim to preserve these feelings, while we have to deal with the legibility and safety constraints, and also be aware of lighting pollution.

Less than 100 years ago, everyone could look up and see a spectacular starry night sky, but now, in our modern world, most of us will never have the chance to experiment with the Milky Way. So, today, as a consequence of living in light-polluted cities, people tend to choose peaceful areas to enjoy moments of relaxation, comfort, and the experience of watching the sky along the waterfront is part of this moment. However, it is not easy to fully feel that emotion as artificial light increases and spreads widely which directly impairs our view of the universe and negatively affects our environment, humans, animals, and plants’ health. Most of us are familiar with air, water, and land pollution, but light pollution is being overlooked. The inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light is known as light pollution. Components of light pollution include:

Skyglow – brightening of the night sky over inhabited areas
Light trespass – light falling where it is not intended or needed
Clutter – bright, confusing, and excessive groupings of light sources

A night starry sky

Human and environmental impact of uncontrolled lighting.

Artificial lighting allows us to engage in nighttime activities along the waterfront that would be impossible or unsafe under normal nighttime conditions. Whether it is for allowing us to get from one point to another, security, or simply making a property more attractive at night, our enjoyment of the night will be enhanced by artificial lighting’s usage. At the same time, our lakes or beach at night provide a quiet open dark space that gives us privacy and the opportunity to enjoy the heavens. Imagine you are sitting on a dock during a crystal clear summer night, the water as flat as glass, the dark surface mirroring the sky, the stars shining brightly above, a falling star tracing a path across the heavens. Unfortunately, this precious part of our heritage is often obscured by the glare from a distant source of light across the water or by light trespass from a nearby property.

But it should not be this way. In most cases, making a few simple adjustments to existing lights will make them darker and sky-friendly and easily be able to solve the problem of light trespass that blinds us from our view of the night sky. The goal of sensitive waterfront lighting is to balance the ability to see at night with the desire to preserve the beauty of the night.

As lighting designer practitioners in Vietnam, our mission is to face multiple situations where lighting contexts are not considered carefully, such as the size and rate of lighting, human moving time, human vision, or the fixtures of lighting. Also, the fact is that much outdoor lighting used at night is inefficient, overly bright, poorly targeted, improperly shielded, and, in many cases, completely unnecessary. This light, and the electricity used to create it, is being wasted by spilling it into the sky, rather than focusing it on the actual objects and areas that people want to illuminate. Vietnam is facing increasing outdoor light pollution, according to local experts, and artificial light from coastal buildings affects coastal creatures, disrupts the World’s Ecosystems, and leads the baby sea turtles to their demise, birds and insects, in fact, a full ecosystem.

Human and environmental impact of uncontrolled lighting.

The good news is that light pollution, unlike many other forms of pollution, is reversible and each one of us can make a difference, and as lighting designers, we are on the front row to explain and give answers to action by:

Balancing minimal energy consumption with efficient use of lighting. Especially landscape lighting, outdoor lighting or facade lighting.
Applying timer and dimmer solution to adapt the quantity of light through the night, from sun until sunrise.
Minimizing glare and light with specific luminaires and smarter directional lighting.
Creating a clearly legible nighttime environment considering the functions of the space.
Using the absence of light as a design tool, a lack of light can be used to guide behavior or to protect the natural environment.

A suitable lighting design for the waterfront is aim to make this unique area a destination by night, a special place, playing a key role in special events. This has to be combined with a very attentive analysis and strategy to preserve the natural sky night environment. This dual approach is, in fact, one of the best occasions for a lighting designer to express their art of combining light with shadows, because it requires high preciseness in terms of implementations, light intensities, and general atmosphere concept. Therefore, this is also our role to raise awareness among our partners and clients because the waterfront is a valuable place for commercial. It can be in contradiction with the will to make this place similar to a city zone, both urban planners and architects have a big part of the responsibility, and we are glad to share your point of view from the preliminary strategic lighting master plan to fulfill our goal to preserve the night sky.

NIGHTSCAPE, A CREATIVE APPROACH FOR URBAN LIGHTING DESIGN

March 16, 2019

Besides the primary purpose of artificial light as it has been using nowadays for functional and security purposes, lighting also serves social and aesthetic functions by influencing how cities are used and perceived.
The urban perception after sunset is an important part of its character and take also a crucial role in tourism attraction. But to reach a level of global approach, the lighting master plan has to deal with multiple actors, private and governmental, which requires certain regulations not only technical, but also sensitive and creative. This approach has to takes into consideration the city landscape as a four dimensions public areas, the architectural structures at different space, which are the urban layout, literally the roads and scale, and the time, from the set to rise of the sun.

As creative lighting designers, we aim to think our projects with this global thinking, from the context analysis we extract the personality of the site that should be tells by night through a proper illumination, responding to the functional request with creative interpretation. To develop such lighting master plan we are used to work by layers of light, independently from the urban functions, but from a plastique point a of view, following four main approach: horizontals, vertical, landmarks and scenarios. Horizontal lighting give us a vision of the use of space. The lighting has brought by masts, bollards and trees are according to the traffic level and importance of the axis. Vertical lighting brings contrast and legibility at bigger scale to the urban landscape, some façades located on axis are then chosen to be light up because they are located on important sightlines and allow us to highlight some main crossroads and important activity zones. Landmarks lightings brings story in the nightscape, by generating breaks in terms of intensity, colors, or other lit effects, and also to create events.

Of course all this different layers have to be harmonized and in accordance with public safety, urban services as well as concern for consumption. But this functional aspect of the lighting should be forgotten from the user point of view, because the night ambient in our city are part of our culture, and lighting has big responsibility in the night environment sustainability.

Ha Long Premier Village Project

For this new urban area, SLA designers has been missioned to light the full urban areas, landscape and facades. First thing we had to consider is the position of the site on the sea side, it is why we proposed a global graduate illumination installation from the main road to the coast line, in order to avoid light pollution and to enjoy the stars sky. We also overlapped several horizontal layers, according to the different architectural styles of each zones, but still with a common logic, as a way to keep a general feeling of guidance and landmark. In terms of façade lighting, we chose to highlight the main roads façade with a strong reinforcement a the main gate. But inside the urban area, we selected only some facades because of their position and the visitor point of view. The general idea is to not overload the lighting, to generate contrast and maintain a graduation in the general illumination till very low luminance on the sea coast.

THEATERS IN VIETNAM – A French Theater Designer Point of View

THE SITUATION

THE NEEDS IN VIETNAM

THE RIGHT PROCESS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

Recent articles

IMPORTANT FACTORS FOR A BESPOKE LAMP

AESTHETIC & ACCURANCY

APPLIANCE UP-TO-DATE TECHNOLOGY

SAFETY & RESPONSABILITY

ERGONOMIC & MAINTENANCE

Recent articles

LIGHTING POLLUTION IN WATERFRONT CONTEXT

Recent articles

NIGHTSCAPE, A CREATIVE APPROACH FOR URBAN LIGHTING DESIGN

Ha Long Premier Village Project

Recent articles

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