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Overlooking the Grand Canal, the complex comprises three aluminum-clad buildings that house a theater, concert hall, and opera house
On the banks of the Grand Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Tongzhou district, Beijing has a new performing arts center. Designed by the Shanghai-based combined practice of Perkins&Will and Schmidt Hammer Lassen, the complex will breathe new life into the historic Tongzhou area.
From plays to operas and orchestral concerts, the Beijing Performing Arts Center will host around 100 events a year. And with performances drawn from both the traditional Chinese and international repertoires, the venue will act as a cultural bridge between East and West.
The Performing Arts Center comprises three main buildings – an opera house, a concert hall, a theatre – flanked by a multipurpose hall and an open-air stage. The architects drew their inspiration from the sails of the boats and the roofs of the old warehouses that once crowded the canal, reinterpreting them through a modern lens as lanterns for the performing arts.
With their aluminum cladding, the three buildings appear to be wrapped in a delicate silver curtain, lifted on one side to reveal the glass structure underneath and let abundant natural light enter inside.
The timber-framed opera house has a circular plan made up of a series of concentric circles that move upwards, giving an energy to the entire construction. Its colors range from the ochre tones of the walls to the deep red of the seats, creating a warm, welcoming environment.
The concert hall, also timber paneled, hosts a magnificent organ. Occupying the center of the hall, the instrument dominates the space and brings it to life. Elegant lights and acoustic devices hang from the ceiling in the center of the hall.
The theater has dark, embossed timber surfaces, while the ceiling, decorated with patterns in beige and brown tones, wraps around the space, creating an intimate atmosphere that encourages audiences to focus on the performance on stage.
A key element of this project is its integration into the natural landscape. A large podium acts to unite the different sections of the complex, extending the interior spaces towards the outside and creating an ongoing dialogue with the landscape. Steps and ramps provide easy access on all sides, while the gardens surrounding the complex provide a green backdrop, encouraging a connection between audiences and the historic Grand Canal.
Harnessing a series of innovative design strategies that promote the health of the ecosystem and people’s wellbeing, the complex has China Three Star environmental certification.
The façades of the buildings have perforated aluminum panel sun shading that reduces energy consumption by 20%, while a geothermal system covers most of the energy needs, achieving 60% renewable energy use. Harvested rainwater is used for irrigation and cleaning, while recycled graywater is used in the bathrooms, significantly reducing resource consumption.
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Location: Beijing, China
Completion: 2023
Gross Floor Area: 125,350 sq. m
Site Area: 122,398 sq. m
Client: China National Centre for the Performing Arts
Architect: Perkins&Will and Schmidt Hammer Lassen
Principal in Charge: Chris Hardie and James Lu
Lead Architect: Chris Hardie, Rong Lu, Chao Chen
Main Contractor: Beijing Construction Engineering Group
Consultants
Interior Design: BIAD Decoration Engineering & Design Co.
Local Design Institute: Beijing Institute of Architectural Design Co.
Structural: Schlaich Bergermann Partner
Façade: Inhabit Group
Theater: Theatre Projects; Michel Cova Consultant
Acoustics: Kahle Acoustics srl.; East China Architectural Design & Research Institute
Stage Engineering: China Radio Film & Television Design and Research Institute
Curtain Wall: Shenzhen OEC Façade Technology Co., Ltd
Lighting: Gala Lighting Design Studio
Landscape: SLA, Beijing Yuanben Shanchuan Technology Co
Photography and Film by Zhu Yumeng, courtesy of Perkins&Will and SHL
