Courtesy of Studio Pei-Zhu
Studio Pei-Zhu has unveiled plans for the Yang Liping Performing Arts Center in Dali, Yunnan, China. Located at a low latitude and high elevation, Dali features a dramatic terrain and a unique climate that create a boundless relationship between earth and sky. The project site is located in the heart of this landscape, on a fertile plateau between the Cangshan mountain range and Erhai lake.
In designing the Performing Arts Center, Studio Pei-Zhu has drawn inspiration from these natural variations in landscape and climate, employing a large canopy roof and a flowing form to invite users into the complex.
Courtesy of Studio Pei-Zhu
Graded topography and grassy hills draw theatergoers into an interior plaza, A “theater box” opens onto the plaza, transforming the space into an interior-exterior performance area. The blurred boundary between indoor / outdoor and landscape / stage also work to erase the psychological boundaries between performer and spectator.
Courtesy of Studio Pei-Zhu
Courtesy of Studio Pei-Zhu
The entire building itself is performative and accessible, as the building slopes down to create a stairway leading from the interior plaza to the building roof, opening up casual public space featuring views of the surrounding terrain.
Courtesy of Studio Pei-Zhu
Courtesy of Studio Pei-Zhu
The building’s materiality evokes the spirit of the surrounding mountains, while its unique woven facade allows light to penetrate into and through the building.
Courtesy of Studio Pei-Zhu
Courtesy of Studio Pei-Zhu
Courtesy of Studio Pei-Zhu
Construction on the Yang Liping Performing Arts Center is currently underway, with an expected completion date coming in 2017.
Courtesy of Studio Pei-Zhu
- Architects: Studio Pei-Zhu
- Location: Dali, Yunnan, China
- Design Principal: Zhu Pei
- Lead Designers: Edwin Lam, Shuhei Nakamura
- Project Manager: Virginia Melnyk
- Project Team: Han Mo, Gary Poon, You Changchen, Ke Jun, Wang Zheng, Ding Xinyue, Feng Chaoying, Wang Peng
- Theater Consultant: dUCKS scéno
- Structural Consultant: Fu Xueyi
- Mep Consultant: CCDI
- Project Year: 2017
- Photographs: Courtesy of Studio Pei-Zhu
Sig Nordal 