Lantern Behind The Curtain

2024 Author: David Durham | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-09 00:52

The Xiqui Center is dedicated to performances of the traditional Chinese musical drama Xiqui, including its subtype, Cantonese Opera. It was the first public institution to open in West Kowloon, a massive new development area designed by Norman Foster's bureau with a strong cultural dimension. The M + Museum, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, will soon open up there.

The facade of the building was designed using digital parametric models, which also made it possible to use the source material - aluminum pipes - completely, without waste; they were cut with a digitally controlled machine. The shipbuilding standard pipes were chosen both for their attractive appearance and for their strength (they are not additionally processed in any way). The resulting facade resembles both a theatrical curtain and the lush costumes of the performers of the xiqui drama. It seems to be pushed apart at the corners of the building, opening access to the inside. This, as well as the “flowing” layout, reflects the concept of the flow of qi energy, which should not meet obstacles. The "moon gate" motif, traditional for Chinese gardens, was also used.

The seven-story building of the Canadian bureau Revery Architecture should become a kind of "gateway" to West Kowloon. On the ground floor there is a plaza with natural ventilation, where cafes and shops, rehearsal studios open. It is connected with the atrium leading upstairs, and the main theater hall for 1073 spectators is located at the very top, at a height of 27 m (its structure weighing 2400 tons was first assembled on the ground and then raised into place), where it is flanked by two hanging gardens. This solution allowed not only to connect the lower floors of the building with the city, but also to isolate the space for performances from the noise and vibration of the transport arteries passing nearby. At the same time, special attention was paid to acoustics: a lot in Xiqui depends on how exactly the phrases are pronounced by the artists, and if we take into account the peculiarities of the tonal language, then the ideal clarity of sound and its optimal audibility for the audience is incredibly important, which the architects took into account.

The complex also includes a more chamber hall "Tea House" for 200 seats, lecture and other educational premises, offices, etc. The total area of construction was 29.7 thousand m2, the budget was 260 million US dollars. The Hong Kong partner of Revery Architecture is Ronald Lu & Partners.