An Urban Stage for the Eisteddfod 2025

The Mirror Stage focuses on celebrating Cardiff Bay and its rich cultural heritage. Each design consideration was carefully thought over to ensure the stage acts as a bridge between the less walked dock area and the Mermaid Quays and calls back on the history of the site while not intruding on the residential area close by. Cardiff Bay is rich with history, with it once being a bustling port handling over 13 million tonnes of coal annually. Alongside the history, the area surrounding Cardiff Bay is one of the most diverse areas in Wales, a place where various cultures thrived. As a result, this scheme decides to explore these cultures and their direct link to the success of Cardiff Bay as a lively port.

Upon looking at the cultures, a decision was made to have the scheme reflect the architecture of these cultures; this led to the design loosely following the architectural language of Islamic architecture since many of these cultures originated from predominantly Islamic countries. This research led to the design focusing on privacy – an integral part of Islamic culture.

The curves found in the stage and bridge were sculpted using the shapes of the docks as a base-layer, which were then smoothened to reflect the use of arches and curves in Islamic architecture. The addition of the one-way glass along with electrochromic film strengthened the focus on privacy, with the entire structure clad in what seems like a mirror from the outside. This use of mirrored surfaces allows the two blocks which support the stage and bridge to appear invisible, giving the impression that these two platforms are suspended in air via nothing – as if they are floating. As you walk down the covered stairs into the main visitor block, you can freely walk onto the stage which acts as an observation deck. As visitors venture onto this space which is as close to the water as possible, they are given an intimate experience between the landscape and themselves – this is further upheld with the mirrored finishes which enclose the visitor from the top and bottom.

The lounge area is designed to act as a teaching space throughout the year, where people can be taught about the rich history and culture of Cardiff Bay. The interior spaces are all designed to make use of partition walls which can come down when needed, allowing the space to accommodate various needs and create a fully flexible structure which will remain a landmark of Cardiff Bay.