Michel Cova established dUCKS scéno in 1991 when he was invited by Pritzker winner Jean Nouvel to develop stage machinery for the Opéra de Lyon. Based in Lyon, France, dUCKS scéno is a pioneering cooperative practice that is emerging as one of the few creative resources for the design of scenography for theatres, concert halls, museums and exhibitions, and special venues.
With a rich portfolio that featured collaboration with luminaries such as Rem Koolhaas, Herzog & de Meuron, Frank Gehry and Christian de Portzamparc, the projects undertaken are often an architectural exploration of theatre, music, dance, exhibition and visual arts in their widest definitions.
Cova and his team of architects, engineers and designers, combine innovative thinking with a great sensitivity for the context of the project. Clever design ideas must have a reason. In his design approach, Cova elevates the thinking about essential functionalities by exploring other, often external factors, which encourages the design team to go beyond the obvious and mundane.
The creative team has a strong interest in architecture and highly developed technical and engineering skills, covering all domains of scenography and theatre technology, as well as audiovisual and lighting design. The competences of dUCKS scéno can be found during all stages of a holistic design process. Program analysis and concept development intertwine with the architectural design, followed by studies of circulation, seating, sightlines, design and engineering of stage machinery, lighting and audiovisual systems, as well as displays and specialised presentation systems.
Cova’s theater experience was ignited during his study at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Arts et Métiers when he worked for theater and opera companies on the design and construction of scenery. His knowledge of life in and around the theater gained depth at the Théâtre National Populaire in Villeurbanne, where he worked as assistant technical director under Roger Planchon et Patrice Chereau.
