steven chilton architects completes 'bamboo forest' wuxi taihu show theater

steven chilton architects has completed the wuxi taihu show theatre, a steel structure designed to look like a bamboo forest in china. located in wuxi, a city near shanghai in eastern china, the 2000 seat theatre has been designed to house a permanent water show by franco dragone.

all images © kris provoost

steven chilton architects were inspired by the sea of bamboo park in yixing, the largest bamboo forest in china. the building’s appearance is composed of three primary elements, the columns, the shade canopy and the building envelope.

representing an abstract impression of a bamboo forest, the slender white columns are positioned around the perimeter of the building in such a way as to provide a screen between the building façade and surrounding landscape. the ‘bamboo’ columns clear around the various entrances to help frame the accesses into the building.

the shade canopy wraps around the perimeter of the building at roof level. conceptually, it represents the canopy of leaves that exist at the top of a bamboo forest. the canopy is made up of various triangular bays containing rows of gold anodised aluminium louvres.

each bay is orientated randomly to create an organic quality to the structure and light and shade patterns that fall across the building envelope through the day. each bay of louvres is also set at different angles to heighten the sense of variation when viewed from different angles.

structurally, each bay of louvres is supported on a triangular lattice structure that braces the tops of the columns and transfers their load into the primary structure of the building. the environmental purpose of the shade canopy and columns is to provide shade over the surface of the façade and passively lower the cooling load on the building.

the building envelope is primarily composed of rendered and painted block-work and curtain wall glazing. the glazing is the full height of the building in and above the entrance lobby to provide maximum views into and out of the main public areas.

it is fritted with white and gold stripes that travel the full height of the building mimicking the ‘bamboo’ columns and contributing to the effect of the building being the outer edge of a forest of bamboo. at night, the building envelop is illuminated from below, becoming an ethereal beacon, glimpsed between the forest of ‘bamboo’ columns, drawing spectators and audience in from across the lake and surrounding development.

project info:

architect: sca | steven chilton architects
client: sunac group
architecture and design management: sunac group
concept engineer: buro happold engineering
theatre consultant: auerbach pollock friedlander
show design: dragone
LDI: tongji architectural design

photography: kris provoost