OPEN Architecture presents The Chapel of Sound | The World Around Summit 2022

Summary

Li Hu and Huang Wenjing from Open Architecture discuss their unique project: designing an outdoor performance venue for the Dune Art Museum in an underdeveloped valley. They emphasize the importance of creating a space that harmonizes with nature, considering the area's harsh winters and the influence of the dilapidated Great Wall. The design, inspired by the Chapel of Sound, aims to provide an intimate, human-scale experience that connects people with their senses and the landscape, using concrete for its monolithic and energy-efficient qualities.

Takeaways

• 😀 Li Hu and Huang Wenjing are architects from Open Architecture, known for their innovative approach to design.
• 🏞️ They were commissioned by Aranya to design an outdoor performance venue in an underdeveloped valley with a history of human presence.
• 🎨 The project aims to create a space that resonates with the natural environment, particularly focusing on the qualities of sound in an outdoor setting.
• 🌲 The valley's raw and barren landscape, along with the harsh winters, presents a design challenge that requires a careful and considerate approach.
• 🏰 The presence of a dilapidated section of the Great Wall in the valley adds historical context and inspires a design that coexists with nature.
• 🎵 The architects envision a 'Chapel of Sound' that not only serves as a performance space but also as a place for people to reconnect with their senses.
• 🌟 The design concept emphasizes a minimal footprint and a light touch on the land, using concrete as the primary material for its monolithic and seamless qualities.
• 🔬 Despite its monolithic appearance, the structure integrates modern technologies for structure, mechanical systems, theater equipment, lighting, and control systems.
• 🌱 The architects reflect on the importance of human senses and the need to reconnect with the natural world, aiming to create a space that encourages this.
• 🏗️ The final design balances the creative freedom of the architects with the practical restrictions of the site, resulting in a space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Q & A

Who are Li Hu and Huang Wenjing?

Li Hu and Huang Wenjing are partners from Open Architecture, an architectural firm.

What is the unique commission Aranya approached Open Architecture with?

Aranya approached Open Architecture with the commission to design an outdoor performance venue in a valley, aiming to develop a new kind of community.

How does the valley's underdevelopment influence the design approach for the performance venue?

The valley's underdevelopment, with its original residents having left, influences the design approach by requiring a minimal footprint and a light touch on the land.

What is the main difference between designing a space for art versus a space for music according to Li Hu?

Li Hu explains that art requires strict climate control, while music and sound are spatial and formless, not requiring climate control.

What aspect of the mountain's landscape impressed Huang Wenjing?

Huang Wenjing was impressed by the raw, rough, and barren quality of the mountain, which has harsh winters and is not a comfortable place for human residence.

Why did the architects decide to place the performance venue on the flat part of the valley?

The architects decided to place the venue on the flat part of the valley to minimize the impact on the land and to respect the natural landscape.

What is the significance of the dilapidated Great Wall discovered by Huang Wenjing?

The dilapidated Great Wall signifies the historical human presence in the area and serves as a reminder of the power of nature over human-made structures.

How does the Great Wall's relationship with the landscape influence the design of the performance venue?

The Great Wall's integration with the landscape inspires the architects to design a structure that coexists with nature, enduring weather and the harshness of the environment.

What material was chosen for the construction of the performance venue, and why?

Concrete was chosen as the building material for its monolithic and seamless properties, making it suitable for creating a structure that appears to be born from the site.

How does the performance venue integrate modern technology while maintaining a simple appearance?

The venue integrates modern technologies such as structure, mechanical systems, theater equipment, lighting, and control systems, all embedded within its seemingly simple and monolithic structure.

What is the intended experience for visitors at the performance venue according to Huang Wenjing?

Huang Wenjing aims for the building to reconnect visitors with their human senses, encouraging them to leave digital devices behind and experience the natural environment and the memory of nature.

How does the architecture of the performance venue reflect the balance between imagination and reality?

The architecture reflects the balance between imagination and reality by creating a design that is both a response to the site's intuitive forces and a logical solution to the functional purpose of creating a space for sound.