work is underway in the western chinese city of dali at the site of the ‘yang liping performing arts center’. designed by studio zhu pei, the structure forms a close relationship with its natural environment, sitting between the cangshan mountain range and erhai, an alpine fault lake. immersed within its environment, the building is shaped by the variations in landscape and climate that define the region.

studio pei-zhu yang liping performing arts center dali yunnan designboom
the ‘yang liping performing arts center’ forms a close relationship with its natural environment

 

 

 

beneath its intertwined and latticed form, an expansive canopy encloses an internal plaza. apertures punctured within the roof allow shards of natural light to enter the design, illuminating its organic topography. the public square features a theater that, when active, transforms the space into a dynamic performance arena. in the same way that the scheme dissolves divisions between the natural landscape and the built environment, the project attempts to remove boundaries that exist between performer and audience. construction in dali is expected to be completed by 2015.

studio pei-zhu yang liping performing arts center dali yunnan designboom
the scheme sits between the cangshan mountain range and erhai, an alpine fault lake

studio pei-zhu yang liping performing arts center dali yunnan designboom
the building is formed by the variations in landscape and climate that define the region

studio pei-zhu yang liping performing arts center dali yunnan designboom
an expansive canopy encloses an internal plaza beneath its intertwined and latticed form

studio pei-zhu yang liping performing arts center dali yunnan designboom
the public square features a box theater that, when active, transforms the space into a dynamic performance arena

studio pei-zhu yang liping performing arts center dali yunnan designboom
elevation showing the scheme in its mountainous context

 

 

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 performing arts center by studio pei-zhu designboom
 
 performing arts center by studio pei-zhu designboom
 
 performing arts center by studio pei-zhu designboom
 
 performing arts center by studio pei-zhu designboom