Studio Zhu-Pei using the contrast of two opposites to design Yangliping Performing Arts Center

Situated between the Cang mountain chain, rising 4,000 meters in height, and 40 kilometer-long Lake Erhai, the city of Dali was a significant stop on the ancient tea and horse road, and is now an important tourism destination. The old town has largely been preserved and still has some remains of the historic city wall and gate towers.

Wooden roof and outdoor theater
Photo credit: Jin Weiqi

View from outdoor theater to roof ramp
Photo credit: Jin Weiqi

View from outdoor theater to roof ramp
Photo credit: Jin Weiqi

Inspired by the powerful surrounding landscape, Zhu Pei searched for landscape-related references to solve the architectonic challenges for the Performing Arts Center. A widely cantilevered rectangular roof spans across a built landscape of free-flowing indoor and outdoor spaces, some of which can be combined as an interacting spatial system. As with mountains and valleys, the strong shape of the roof reflects the more organic landscape below and points to the old Chinese principle of yin and yang, where two opposites combine together to form a whole. Formally expressed as organic-shaped hills, the partly sunken spaces transform into a natural garden landscape, promising a high experiential quality that extends inside to the public theatre.

Aerial view
Photo credit: Jin Weiqi

Outdoor theater and outdoor performance space
Photo credit: Jin Weiqi

Outdoor theater
Photo credit: Jin Weiqi

Wooden roof details
Photo credit: Jin Weiqi

West elevation
Photo credit: Jin Weiqi

About Studio Zhu-Pei

Founded in 2005 in Beijing, Studio Zhu-Pei is one of the leading Chinese architecture firms focusing on cultural projects. Studio Zhu-Pei is recognized for its experience and its ability to blend forms, space, and light with great contextual sensitivity, and to utilize the unique qualities of each project to create a concept-driven design. The studio specializes in the seamless integration of new projects into contexts with particular natural, cultural, and historical importance. Studio Zhu-Pei’s design philosophy is focused on Nature Architecture, which explores the importance and relations between the root that deeply grounds the work into a specific nature and culture, and innovation that defines the revolutionary thinking of the architecture.

Zhu Pei is the founder and principal designer of the studio. He is the Dean, and a professor, of the Central Academy of Fine Arts' School of Architecture. He has taught as a visiting professor at Harvard University, and an adjunct professor at Columbia University. He was a jury member of the Mies van der Rohe Award in 2011.