Jump to content

Mareel - Cinema & Music Venue


madcow
 Share

Recommended Posts

^^^^^ wayyy back a few posts.

 

Thanks for your reply, Bryan. However, a few points: (Takes a deep breath and yes, I've done finger warm-up exercises before posting this :wink: )

 

Don't Planning Regulations usually stipulate the minimum number of toilets required as opposed to what in reality is really required?

 

Super-duper soundproofing: Are we talking Acoustilay/Maxiboard/glorified gypsum thingies that have been around for the last say 15 years? I take it a similar product is being utilised for the ceilings? Or are we also talking foam-filling voids near the pipework too - I mention this as I see the plant rooms are based on the top floor and as underfloor heating is shown, some noise may come from the plant room perhaps?

 

Ah, the roof. I did giggle a tad when I read (YES SP, I have read them), words to the effects of how the roof is not rusting but changing colour due to oxidisation - the roof is aluminium so what is the expected lifespan or has it been treated? How is the building going to be soundproofed from the noise outside?

 

I did mention multi-purpose use buildings and you mentioned The Barbican Centre. With all due respect, the cinemas within that particular centre are 'cushioned' away from the main auditorium/hall by, if memory serves me correctly, the conservatory and the library; they are not on the same floor as is the case here. Whilst I have mentioned Acoustilay, it is not uncommon to be within many modern cinemas down south and despite the attentuation, to be watching a lovey dovey film only to hear the bombs exploding in the war film next door.

 

Perish the thought but given the design of Mareel, what will be the maximum volume output permitted by bands playing? Most rock bands' output is anywhere between 100db and 130db but as you have the Noise at Work Regulations to consider and the other users, would I be wrong to assume that you are installing a noise control output device?

 

Whilst I have referred to soundproofing for the roof, ceilings and walls, I have not raised the issue of vibration - how is this being addressed?

 

I HAVE attempted to read back but after the first 10 pages taking quite a while to say the least, I gave up. I would have endeavoured to search more had the search facility being operational. Did the Architects/powers that be engage the services of an organisation suitably qualified and specialising in sound to ascertain what soundproofing was to be used or did the Architects just choose it? In other words, was an acoustic survey carried out to ascertain the most suitable products to use?

 

I see from the Minutes (haven't got other screen open but as these don't state everything that was said, aren't these Notes rather than Minutes? - and apologies if they do say Notes), that wedding receptions are going to be catered for. The number referred to seems a tad on the low side but it is good to see that some money will hopefully be generated. That said, I can't see on the plans that the cafe/bar will have a kitchen so will any wedding receptions have to rely on outside caterers?

 

The same document refers to attracting big named bands and yet others have said that Mareel is more for local musicians - I take it you have liaised with promoters outwith Shetland to ascertain the minimum number of attendees to make it worth their while? When I referred to transport, I wasn't just referring to Shetlanders but also perhaps attracting and persuading a well known band to say start their UK tour here instead of playing Mainland Scotland. It isn't uncommon to venture abroad to see bands on a package coach trip.

 

Disabled access - don't see any lift shafts on the plans. Is ALL of Mareel fully accessible to disabled users?

 

I'll bog off now. :wink:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

^^^^^^

Yea – tinks du wid da soon-proofin quieten da runkle on da corrugated tin ruif if he comes on a haily shoor in da middle o’ da Barber o Seville or da second movement from Mozart's "Eine kleine Nachtmusic" nivver mind Stairway To Heaven fae Led Zeppelin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wont spend the same length of time as you have typing out your post Unlinked..

 

But from my memory.. all the walls are insulated in 4 layers of varying materials every rivet, screw and fixing has been designed so it does not transfer any noise through each layer of sound proofing.. every room is treated in different ways depending on what its use is going to be the ventilation system has been designed again so no sound can be transferred through its pipe work and that goes for all the services.

 

Ceilings are of a special design.. not specifically to mareel but to any music venue to make it acoustically sound. the floors are sprung as to again reduce annoying back ground noises being transferred to where it is not wanted. The doors are accoustically designed and where required there is two doors to go through.. such as the stage door.

 

There is 3 levels of lighting. one normal. one for the stage and a blue light that will be on while acts are playing so if a door is opened it wont stream in bright light if there are any late comers to events.

 

Disabled access has been a major factor in the design in the building.. there are 2 lifts for the main areas and a couple more to enable any employees with mobility problems to all areas other than the plant room if my memory serves me right..

 

Time will tell how well it all works but i am under no illusion that every minute detail has been considered and put into practice.. there is no denying this is by far one of the most technically and innovative designed buildings in the UK for this type of use at this precise time and I now fully understand why it has been delayed in the way it has.

 

oh and on the toilet front.. they are so well sound proofed that my worry isnt about noise coming from them but more the fact that the smell might linger around

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am not sure what the point about the post is. As said, most will be thought about. The whole building will oxidise as it is all made from a similar material.

Another attempt to belittle the management and nothing really constructive on the construction, it still amazes me that folk still try to make a point that has already been dealt with via the regulations. If the minimum amount of disable access toilets have been installed, what is the problem. Did not see the multiple lifts either?

To think that you will hear the pitter patter of seagull feet with the occasional plop sound, through the roof. I ask you, do you really think this will happen? Really?

 

The committee have to be applauded, not only the stress of the building project, but pointless complaints, when all this could be done by going to the meetings and taking part.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

^Unfortunately SP some people look for problems that don't exist as they have little better to do with their time. I like you have faith that the design team aren't a group of blithering idiots who have no idea how to build a cinema/arts centre.

 

I really don't know how Shetland Arts don't sit pissing themselves laughing at some of the utter crap thrown at them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is one of those rare times I shall remember.

 

Thanks for voicing that, I feel they don't sit wetting themselves because they have compassion and a sense of understanding. Sadly lacking in the posts on some of these threads.

 

I am looking into being active in one or two things the Mareel has to offer, the nub of it is spreading the culture of Shetland to folk who listen to my radio shows here, hopefully, there will be some going back.

 

My link with Shetland is one of history and culture, and not convenience of a job and money. (though the plan is still to retire amongst my kin, of which I love)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Twertowrote

Disabled access has been a major factor in the design in the building.. there are 2 lifts for the main areas and a couple more to enable any employees with mobility problems to all areas other than the plant room if my memory serves me right..
So far so good but how about disabled egress?. Having had yet another unexplained power cut today I am a bit reluctant to trust lifts as a way to get people out of a building in an emergency.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

^ Thank you Twerto for your informative post, it is appreciated.

 

SP, SOME of us don't have the time or money to venture into town to attend the meetings. SOME of us have looked online for the information to discover it isn't there. SOME of us have previously worked on large projects where the blatantly obvious design flaws raised by the public have fallen on deaf ears of the Design Teams.

 

S{by the way, do you realise I tried to swear here?}horpe recently opened their new leisure centre, The Pods. One comment left on a website is why the Architects couldn't have thought how to clean the glass roof when the swimming pool was filled with water - no doubt their Design Team knew exactly what they were doing! Oh, and they are also closing down the 27 year old leisure centre. But hey, 'experts' and 'councils' always know how to get Best Value, don't they?

 

SOME of us do play Devil's Advocate in the hope that answers will be forthcoming by the powers that be - forgive me, but didn't the SIC for one state that they would be more open with us mere mortals? Why can't SAT be the same?

 

SP, do me a favour - we're not just talking about the occasional seagull here. We're talking about aluminium that whilst doesn't rust, has a limited lifespan.

 

Yes, I've only been in Shetland just over two years so therefore I haven't known and read every single piece of information/misinformation posted about Mareel.

 

I am concerned about the running costs. Great if it is going to be a success but I am erring on the side of caution here, I have my doubts. As I have stated in posts on other threads, I am the type of person who if I am proved to be wrong, I am not afraid to hold my hand up and admit to being in the wrong.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There have been many meetings in the last two years. Is this really the correct forum to have your observations addressed?

 

You did your research, I know that.

 

the thing to do now is to promote Shetland, and the Mareel to all the folk you know and get them to looksee. As it will be in everyones interest to help with the running costs, surely.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There have been many meetings in the last two years. Is this really the correct forum to have your observations addressed?

 

Define many. Define where advertised. Why should I not be entitled to post on here when you do and others, quite rightly, can; or are you saying that your observations and viewpoints are more important than mine and that of others? TWICE you have (perhaps deliberately) referred to my post re "wasted space" - perhaps you expected me not to reply?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Mareel has been featured for years on the Arts web site, the meetings have all been promoted there, and on Facebook. I could say, for fecks sake, you live there, get involved. It is not about that, it is about being positive about the place you live and of course exploring any links to where you come from.

 

Now I am off to the pub in town to support a local band.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In response to some of the points raised in recent posts:

 

Re disabled access:

 

I'm quite astounded to read that some people are claiming there will be no, or insufficient, disabled access! There is, but if you don't believe me and you wish to perpetuate such a rumour, I'd take a moment to consider your motives for doing so.

 

And yes, there are comprehensive evacuation plans too.

 

Re: the site of the building

 

When designing a public facility such as Mareel, the location is absolutely critical. There would be very little point in first designing the building only to find there are no suitable locations near to the majority of users and/or public transport links. In my opinion, the design team have done a great job of fitting the requirements within the confines of the site.

 

Re: claims that there isn't sufficient information available:

 

I'm not aware of any other public building that there has been so much information available in the public domain during the construction phase. Hopefully when the Mareel website is launched next year then all the information the general public will need will be readily available.

 

And if folk, as has been the case on these forums over the past few days, are asking for details regarding the design and engineering specs then the best way for them to get the answers they're looking for is to ask Shetland Arts or come to one of the regular meetings.

 

It's a fair request to ask for an overview of the technical specs but there are hundreds of thousands of pages of information pertaining to Mareel - it isn't feasible summarise and/or publish all of it on the website. And I'm not sure how relevant it would be to most people.

 

For example, some of the requests from Ghostrider

* sq/m of floor(s) available for each individual interest area
Being a multi use venue in which each space can be used for multiple activities, I'm not sure how such information could be presented in any kind of meaningful way.
* restrictions/conditions of simultaneous usage of different pursuits/areas
That comes down to a management and programming issue, and common sense. You wouldn't have a kids party upstairs in the cafe with a heavy metal band in the main auditorium with the punters accessing the lower bar. It isn't feasible to go through every possible combination of potential uses of each area and tick a 'yes' or 'no' box
* level (or lack of) sound insulation/vibration deadening between areas of potential conflict
Again, that's programming and management as much as it is technical specs.

Re: number of toilets

 

Yes, there are sufficient toilets! However, if ever person in the building has the call of nature at once then there may be a queue.

 

Re: soundproofing

 

I don't know what else to say other than everything that can be done has been done to ensure a) maximum acoustic separation between spaces and B) acoustic properties of each space are suitable.

 

Sound propagation through buildings is a well understood process and has been taken into account at every stage of the design process. I've heard the rumour that the noise from rain on the cladding will be problematic - I have no idea where that rumour has come from, and I'm surprised that folk think that this hadn't been taken into consideration. All I can say is that I've been in the building many times when the rain is lashing down and you can't hear it at all.

 

 

In summary, I'm at a bit of a loss as to what folk expect of the design team. The architects have a proven track record in the field - http://www.garethhoskinsarchitects.co.uk/projects/arts-and-culture - and the technical consultants are among the best in the business - http://www.arup.com - micromanaging them via anonymous postings on a forum is unlikely to prove constructive.

 

 

SOME of us do play Devil's Advocate in the hope that answers will be forthcoming by the powers that be - forgive me, but didn't the SIC for one state that they would be more open with us mere mortals? Why can't SAT be the same?
I spend much of my free time answering questions online unlinkedstudent, and if you're who I think you are, I've discussed Mareel on the phone with you too. We organise regular public meetings, issue regular progress reports and our staff are more than happy to deal with any Mareel enquiries. All our finances are published on our website as are all our board meeting minutes. How do you wish us to be more open?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

There have been many meetings in the last two years. Is this really the correct forum to have your observations addressed?

 

Define many. Define where advertised. Why should I not be entitled to post on here when you do and others, quite rightly, can; or are you saying that your observations and viewpoints are more important than mine and that of others? TWICE you have (perhaps deliberately) referred to my post re "wasted space" - perhaps you expected me not to reply?

 

they are a reply to the ignorance you expect me to believe you have about the whole process. Devils ad, my muckle sphincter, it sounds more like those Shetland Trees are doin overtime, even if adopted.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

^ Bryan

 

I NEVER said there wasn't disabled access.

 

Whilst you state that information is available on the website (and I'm referring also to the SIC website), it isn't easy to find. Just imagine you are someone who isn't familiar with your website trying to find information - such as the sq ft of the auditorium, for example, and see how long it takes them to find it.

 

It is good to hear (if you pardon the pun) that you cannot hear the rain falling on the roof.

 

You do know who I am. Yes, we did have a conversation about the possibility of a certain band playing here but if I recall correctly, Mareel was only a very small part of that conversation, with that conversation being over a year ago.

 

What you do with your spare time is entirely your business and I thank you for posting your replies. That said, is it not reasonable to say that you shouldn't have to be doing it in your spare time?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...