Ife - The Assembly Hall 1970

Prev                                                                                                   14 of 14                                                                                                              NEXT

The Assembly Hall and Amphitheatre occupy the south-western corner of the main core, forming an imposing boundary to the west with its wide stairs, which ascend from the main piazza towards the hall and open foyers. It is a multipurpose hall, housing 1,400 people, and is fully air-conditioned, but can also be naturally ventilated. It was conceived in the shape of a sloping saucer serving as seating platform covered by a concrete "tent" oversailing the hall area, which is supported on the outer column line and protects the hall from sun and rain. A minimum stage tower has been provided, as all Nigerian theatre relies on "thrust-stage" production. Leading off the stage tower to the north is the semicircular stage of the amphitheatre. The amphitheatre itself, seating 3,500, slopes upwards as a semicircular concrete structure over a large parking area.