Mirrored stage goes outside the box to host performances

A MIRRORED box was chosen last night as the winner of an international design competition for a unique mobile performance and exhibition space for Cork city.

The winning design by Peter Feeny Architects and 3P.Urban.Process of London, was the judges' unanimous choice.

Architects were told the Art Box, which shouldn't cost more than €750,000, should be designed to stage films, art exhibitions, lectures, performances and for use as a festival club or a meeting point.

It had to be flexible and robust, easily transportable and easily stored.

It had to be designed so that it could be erected quickly by a small team of people on different types of ground for example on gravel, grass, or concrete.

The judges said Mr Feeney's design was a "very elegant proposition with its mirrored box and lit carpet."

Mr Feeny, who was at the announcement in City Hall last night, received a prize of €5,000.

The competition attracted 73 entries from around the world.

It was run by Cork City Council in association with the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland and had support from the Arts Council.

Murray Ó Laoire architects from Limerick took second place for their design.

O'Mahony Pike Architects from Cork, which designed "a neat and accomplished version of the folding out box of curiosities", came third.

The council plans to secure funding to build Mr Feeny's Art Box.

City arts officer, Liz Meaney, who also helped judge the competition, said she was hopeful of securing construction funding.

"The Art Box competition is unique to Cork," she said.

"We were impressed with the standard of entries from all over the world.

"The winner is a solution which is both elegant and functional. The interest shown by designers demonstrates the potential to devise new and innovative ways to house contemporary arts practice.

"Its mobility makes it an intrinsically democratic concept."

Shortlisted designs came from White Table/Price + Myers 3D Engineering and from Eldridge Smerin Architects & Designers, both from London.

Twenty-five of the top designs are now on display in City Hall's Millennium Hall until February 22.