Philanthropist Doris Duke, Affluent Benefactor
In the picturesque Berkshires region of Western Massachusetts, the renowned dance center Jacob's Pillow has received a significant makeover. The Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo, led by Francine Houben, has designed a new theatre to replace the previous black-box studio that was destroyed by fire in 2020.
The new Doris Duke Theatre is a 20,000 sq. ft. wood-clad dance theater, more than double the size of its predecessor. It offers increased capacity and functionality while maintaining intimacy with a main stage seating around 230 people.
Mecanoo's design balances Indigenous design principles linked to nature with a robust theatrical infrastructure. Indigenous artist Jeffrey Gibson was integrated into the design team to reflect this connection. The theatre uses modern timber construction, echoing the existing campus vernacular of gentle wood architecture, emphasizing warmth, inclusiveness, and accessibility.
The new theatre incorporates cutting-edge technology such as a spatial audio system, infrared camera tracking for interactive video content, live performances with augmented reality, robots, artificial intelligence, and immersive platforms supporting dance performances. These features make it one of the world’s most technologically sophisticated dance theaters.
The Doris Duke Theatre includes two lobbies with sliding doors for multiple entrances/exits. The Jameson Family Lobby serves as a welcoming area with space for pre-show talks and exhibitions. The Forest Studio acts as a warm-up, rehearsal space, and reception area. The building supports simultaneous multi-use activities like performances, events, and residencies.
Sustainability is a key focus, with large green rooftops that have potential for future rainwater collection for irrigation and toilets, reflecting environmental sensitivity.
The redesigned theatre is a testament to Jacob's Pillow's evolution from a homestead to a world-class dance mecca. It continues the Pillow's tradition of championing counter-narratives about culture and identity, as it did when Ted Shawn, a modern dance pioneer, bought the farm in 1931 and hosted 'Tea Lecture Demonstrations' to showcase his dance troupe's skills to the local community and raise funds.
The Perles Family Studio, another addition to the Jacob's Pillow campus, was designed by Boston-based Flansburgh Architects and completed in 2017. The landscape surrounding the Perles Family Studio was designed by New York practice Marvel with input from indigenous artists. The eastern entrance has a garden and a communal fire pit that reflect the cultural traditions of the people who first inhabited the land.
The Perles Family Studio's timber-clad performance space is designed to weather gracefully and tell its own story of the passage of time. The central quad in the landscape provides space for outdoor rehearsals, celebrations, and more informal use.
Photos of the projects are by Iwan Baan.
[1] The Architect's Newspaper
[2] Dezeen
[3] ArchDaily
[4] Architect Magazine
- The renovated Jacob's Pillow dance center, located in the Berkshires region of Western Massachusetts, is featured in major architectural news outlets such as The Architect's Newspaper, Dezeen, ArchDaily, and Architect Magazine.
- The history of Jacob's Pillow, dating back to Ted Shawn's purchase of a homestead in 1931, is intertwined with the evolution of modern dance and counter-narratives about culture and identity in the US.
- In addition to the new Doris Duke Theatre, the Jacob's Pillow campus also includes the Perles Family Studio, designed with touchpoints to local culture, history, and environmental sensitivity, as seen in the communal fire pit and indigenous garden.
- The new Doris Duke Theatre is at the forefront of technology, incorporating features like spatial audio systems, interactive video, augmented reality, robots, and immersive platforms, making it one of the world's most technologically sophisticated dance theaters.
- Embracing both tradition and sustainability, the Doris Duke Theatre and the Perles Family Studio feature modern timber construction and green rooftops for potential rainwater collection, aligning with the environment-focused lifestyle and off-grid living ideals of the region.
