SIGHT LINE

A SIGHTLINE, OR SIGHT LINE, IS A NORMALLY UNOBSTRUCTED LINE-OF-SIGHT BETWEEN AN INTENDED OBSERVER (OR SPECTATOR) AND A STAGE, ARENA, OR MONUMENT, FOR EXAMPLE. SIGHTLINES ARE A PARTICULARLY
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION

IN THEATRE AND STADIUM DESIGN, ROAD JUNCTION LAYOUT AND URBAN PLANNING. IN CITIES SUCH AS LONDON, CONSTRUCTION WITHIN SIGHTLINES IS RESTRICTED TO PROTECT THE KEY VIEWS OF FAMOUS LANDMARKS. OBJECTS THAT HAVE A DIRECT LINE OF SIGHT WITH ONE ANOTHER ARE SAID TO BE INTERVISIBLE.

SIGHTLINES IN THEATRES SIGHTLINE CRITERIA IN THEATERS CAN INCLUDE: THE "ISACOUSTIC CURVE" DEFINED BY JOHN SCOTT RUSSELL IN 1838 AND APPLIED AT THE AUDITORIUM BUILDING IN CHICAGO AND THE EMERY THEATRE IN CINCINNATI; ALTERNATE ROW
SIGHTLINES WHERE EACH PATRON SEES BETWEEN THE HEADS OF PATRONS IN THE ROW IN FRONT AND OVER THE HEADS OF PATRONS IN THE SECOND ROW IN FRONT; NEXT ROW SIGHTLINES WHERE EACH PATRON SEES OVER THE HEADS OF PATRONS IN THE ROW IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT; AND BASIC CONSIDERATIONS LIKE POINTING THE CHAIRS MORE OR LESS TOWARD THE

PERFORMANCE,, BEING ABLE TO SEE THE CONDUCTOR IN THE PIT, BEING ABLE TO SEE OTHER PATRONS, BEING ABLE TO SEE ACTORS ON ELEVATED SCENERY, AND NOT BEING OBSTRUCTED BY A WALL, RAILING, COLUMN, CEILING OVERHANG,

LOUDSPEAKER CLUSTER OR ANY OTHER OBSTRUCTION. THE

DESIGN OF SIGHTLINES INCLUDES CONSIDERATION OF HOW MUCH THE STAGE AND SCENERY EACH PATRON CAN SEE.

C-VALUE GOOD SIGHTLINES ALLOW SPECTATORS TO SEE ALL AREAS OF A VENUE STAGE. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A SPECTATOR'S EYE HEIGHT MUST BE NOT BE LOWER THAN 800 MM ABOVE THE STAGE. CALCULATING 'C-VALUE' THE ANGLE FROM A SPECTATOR'S EYES TO THE TOP OF THE FOREHEAD OF THE PERSON IN FRONT OF HIM IS CALLED A CVALUE. THE C-VALUE IS A VALUE THAT HELPS PRODUCE A RAKE. D = THE HORIZONTAL DISTANCE FROM THE EYE TO THE POINT
OF FOCUS

N = THE RISER HEIGHT R = THE VERTICAL HEIGHT TO THE POINT OF FOCUS T = THE SEATING ROW DEPTH