Kris Yao Artech 姚仁喜 大元建築工場

Wuzhen Theater

Wuzhen Theater
© David Chen

WUZHEN THEATER

KRIS YAO | ARTECH

PHOTOGRAPHS
David Chen, Fei-Chung Ying

AREA
21750 m²

YEAR
2010

LOCATION
China

CATEGORY
Theater

English description provided by architect.

Wuzhen Theater
© Fei-Chung Ying
Wuzhen Theater
© Fei-Chung Ying

In this romantic and surreal water village in China, the owner of the development decided that Wuzhen would be an important name in the global atlas of theater where an international theater festival would be located.

In order to complete his vision, Kris Yao and his team was asked to design the Wuzhen Theater.

Wuzhen Theater
© Fei-Chung Ying
Wuzhen Theater
© Fei-Chung Ying

The greatest challenge was to design a large building containing two theaters with 1200 and 600 seats back to back, with modern theater functions in this small, traditional water village in southern China.

Using the culturally auspicious “twin lotus” as its metaphor, which functions perfectly with two theatres sharing one stage area, the design is composed of two oval shapes interlocking one another, one of them transparent and the opaque in form.

Wuzhen Theater
© Fei-Chung Ying
Wuzhen Theater
© Fei-Chung Ying

Due to its dual purposes of the theater festival and tourism, the functions of the theaters are multifold.

Possibilities include formal stage performances, avant-garde creations, fashion shows, conventions and wedding ceremonies.

Wuzhen Theater
© Fei-Chung Ying
Wuzhen Theater
© Fei-Chung Ying
Wuzhen Theater
© Fei-Chung Ying

Visitors arrive at the theaters by wooden boats or on foot from an island across the bridge.

The smaller theater to the right is located within the “solid’ volume, where pedal-like segments of thick reclining walls, clad in ancient super-sized brick, wrap around the foyer.

The grand theater to the left, enclosed in the zigzag fan-shaped glass front with a Chinese window motif, glows in the evenings and reflects on the water, adding charm to the already misty and surreal atmosphere of this otherworldly water village.

Wuzhen Theater
© Fei-Chung Ying
Wuzhen Theater
© Fei-Chung Ying
Wuzhen Theater
© David Chen


Wuzhen Theater
© Fei-Chung Ying
Wuzhen Theater
© Fei-Chung Ying
Wuzhen Theater
© Fei-Chung Ying
Wuzhen Theater
© Fei-Chung Ying
Wuzhen Theater
© Fei-Chung Ying
Wuzhen Theater
© Fei-Chung Ying


Wuzhen Theater
© Fei-Chung Ying
Wuzhen Theater
© Fei-Chung Ying
Wuzhen Theater
© David Chen
Wuzhen Theater
© David Chen
Wuzhen Theater
© David Chen
Wuzhen Theater
© David Chen


Wuzhen Theater
Floor Plan
Wuzhen Theater
Floor Plan
Wuzhen Theater
Floor Plan
Wuzhen Theater
Floor Plan
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Floor Plan
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Floor Plan
Wuzhen Theater
Floor Plan
Wuzhen Theater
Floor Plan


Wuzhen Theater
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Kris Yao Artech 姚仁喜 大元建築工場
T +886 2 27115050 F +886 2 27722877
Kris Yao Artech 姚仁喜 大元建築工場
11 Building, 168 DunHua N Rd, Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10548 台北市敦化北路168號11樓