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music hall streetscape renovation, portsmouth, nh
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Proposed Music Hall Streetscape Renovation
Design Intent
Problematic Site:
The Music Hall in Portsmouth exists on Chestnut Street, a small side street, with little visual access from any other street in Portsmouth. Therefore, a major objective for the renovation of this street is to increase the awareness of the Music Hall from the Congress Street corner of Chestnut Street and beyond. Other important site issues concern pedestrian safety—steep sidewalk and street grades, curb locations and roof drainage. Additionally, vehicular circulation conflicts often create hazardous conditions for theater patrons upon exiting the theater.
Design Solution:
Safety Enhanced
The proposed design seizes the opportunity to solve the safety issues and create a beneficial exterior plaza immediately outside the theater. The plaza is defined by sculptural sitting walls and plant masses at the plaza corners. Awkward curbs are then removed and the existing street grades are made more level. Theatergoers can then extend the theater experience simply by sitting on the new walls in a well-lit and vegetated space, engaging each other informally. In this way, the new plaza can accommodate impromptu gatherings while vehicular traffic is maintained—but slowed—by the plaza elements.
Aesthetics Enhanced
Beyond safety, the site aesthetics and bus circulation are improved with the removal of an unsightly telephone pole full of wires. Electrical service will then be placed underground. In addition, the Site Plan shows a pavement pattern that radiates from the Music Hall down the street and into the community—echoing the role of the Music Hall as the cultural hub of Portsmouth and beyond. The other dramatic features of this space are the wrought iron arch and kiosk system that extend over Chestnut Street, at Congress Street, which will be visible from the Vaughan Mall and up Congress. This arch system is still in the preliminary phase of design and not available for viewing. Finally, the statues of ‘David’ shown on niche shelves are placeholders for possible wall mounted sculptures with architectural lighting on the building facades. The niche shelves create an opportunity for Art-Speaks to showcase public art works and the lit elements develop a unique rhythm up Chestnut Street to the Music Hall entrance.
Terrence Parker – Landscape Architect, A.S.L.A.
The project is still preliminary and subject to the approval process and input from the City of Portsmouth and The Music Hall.
3D renderings provided by Tangram 3DS.
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