The Fourth Wall Theatre tells a story of the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island. Historically, Kìwekì Point was used as a gathering space for cultural, economic, and social exchange between multiple Indigenous tribes facilitated by the Kississippi (Ottawa) River. The river has acted as a literal and metaphorical boundary that has facilitated and limited relations across time. To see more information on the site analysis of Kìwekì Point, please see here.

The design of the Fourth Wall Theatre focuses on the act of storytelling which has facilitated the transportation of knowledge for the majority of human history. As such, the concept was that the building act as a storyteller to memorialize the history of the site and transport knowledge to future generations. Exposed rammed earth is the material embodiment of this ideal. The Earth building speaks to a time where we lived more harmoniously with Nature and represents the feasibility of using natural architecture in contemporary society. The building plays with liminal moments to spatially communicate this message. The spatial boundaries are porous to expose guests to the “behind the scenes” of theatre production. The performance is encouraged to break free of fixed seating and use the entire space as a stage. 

Nominated for Publication in Building 22