Steven Chilton Architects’ Wuxi Taihu Show Theater Inspired by a Bamboo Forest
newsdepo.com
London-based Steven Chilton Architects’ Wuxi Taihu Show Theater is inspired by the Sea of Bamboo Park in Yixing, the largest bamboo forest in China. Located close to Lake Taihu in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China, the theater’s slender white columns along thSteven Chilton Architects’ Wuxi Taihu Show Theater Inspired by a Bamboo Forest
London-based Steven Chilton Architects’ Wuxi Taihu Show Theater is inspired by the Sea of Bamboo Park in Yixing, the largest bamboo forest in China. Located close to Lake Taihu in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China, the theater’s slender white columns along the building’s perimeter represent an abstract impression of a bamboo forest. When complete, the 2000 seat theater will house a permanent water show by Franco Dragone, which is due to open in 2019.“The building’s appearance is composed of three primary elements, the columns, the shade canopy and the building envelope. Representing an abstract impression of a bamboo forest, the slender white columns are positioned around the perimeter of the building in such a way as to provide a screen between the building facade and surrounding landscape. The ‘bamboo’ columns clear around the various entrances to help frame the accesses into the building,” describes Steven Chilton Architects (SCA).“The shade canopy wraps around the perimeter of the building at roof level. Conceptually, it represents the canopy of leaves that exist at the top of a bamboo forest. The canopy is made up of various triangular bays containing rows of gold anodised aluminium louvres. Each bay is orientated randomly to create an organic quality to the structure and light and shade patterns that fall across the building envelope through the day. Each bay of louvres is also set at different angles to heighten the sense of variation when viewed from different angles,” adds SCA.The shade canopy and columns provide shade over the surface of the facade to passively lower the cooling load on the building. The building envelope features rendered and painted block-work and curtain wall glazing. The full height glazing of the building in and above the entrance lobby provides maximum views of the main public areas. Fritted with white and gold stripes that travel the full height of the building mimicking the ‘bamboo’ columns, contribute to the effect of the building being the outer edge of a forest of bamboo, according to SCA.During the night, the building envelop is illuminated from below, which transforms it into an ethereal beacon, glimpsed between the forest of ‘bamboo’ columns. The theater, due to open in December 2019, has been shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival Future Project Award in the Cultural Category.Click on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the Wuxi Taihu Show Theater.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder: Louise Blouin Read more