Three facets responding to the people and the sea. Chapel of Music by Vector Architects
19/11/2023.
[Aranya - Qinhuangdao] China
metalocus, ANTONIO CORREDERA
metalocus, ANTONIO CORREDERA
Vector Architects completes a new project, the Chapel of Music, a building that redefines the communal spaces concept in Hebei, China. It is the fourth studio project within the Aranya Qinhuangdao community, a north city in China.
Now, unlike its predecessors, which all occupy direct seafront locations, this theater finds its place at the heart of the community plaza, known as Youyi Bay. Situated slightly north of the plaza’s center, it is flanked by a canteen and market to the north, residential apartments to the west, and hotels and shops to the south.
The architecture takes shape with a geometrical structure of exposed concrete, which is expressed with three facets sculpting inside and outside a serene vertical space.
Now, unlike its predecessors, which all occupy direct seafront locations, this theater finds its place at the heart of the community plaza, known as Youyi Bay. Situated slightly north of the plaza’s center, it is flanked by a canteen and market to the north, residential apartments to the west, and hotels and shops to the south.
The architecture takes shape with a geometrical structure of exposed concrete, which is expressed with three facets sculpting inside and outside a serene vertical space.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Shengliang Su.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Arch-Exist.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Arch-Exist.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Arch-Exist.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Hao Chen.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Hao Chen.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Arch-Exist.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Hao Chen.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Hao Chen.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Hao Chen.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Arch-Exist.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Hao Chen.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Arch-Exist.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Arch-Exist.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Arch-Exist.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Hao Chen.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Hao Chen.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Arch-Exist.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Hao Chen.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Arch-Exist.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Hao Chen.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Shengliang Su.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Arch-Exist.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Arch-Exist.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Arch-Exist.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Arch-Exist.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Zaiye Studio.
Vector Architects designed the building as an exquisite architectural musical instrument in the plaza, a music hall orchestrated by sound, light, and air, a new type of music venue and space.
The building is centrally located within the community, with three distinct facades that respond respectively to the flows of people accessing the plaza and the sea, defined by a harmonious coexistence with the city, creating several public spaces with diverse atmospheres and scales. The building is elevated off the ground and can be accessed via a long ramp that invites people toward the chapel to embark on an exploration of music and space.
The project was designed to pay special attention to the section, with the Meditation Rotunda with a stage at its center, on the lower level, and the Skylight Music Hall above it. Forty-eight spectators can be accommodated on two levels of seating surrounding the stage.
When performances unfold, the sound through the hall and travels down to the rotunda through nine brass sound transmission tubes. A large retractable circular pneumatic roof crowns the Music Hall, introducing a natural skylight. When the weather is nice, this roof ascends to transform the Music Hall into an open-air theater.
The Meditation Rotunda on the lower floor is nine meters high. By leaving a fifty-centimeter- wide gap with operable glass panels at the corner of walls, natural light softly diffuses through the corner gaps below, as well as from the upper gaps around the suspended stage.
The building is centrally located within the community, with three distinct facades that respond respectively to the flows of people accessing the plaza and the sea, defined by a harmonious coexistence with the city, creating several public spaces with diverse atmospheres and scales. The building is elevated off the ground and can be accessed via a long ramp that invites people toward the chapel to embark on an exploration of music and space.
The project was designed to pay special attention to the section, with the Meditation Rotunda with a stage at its center, on the lower level, and the Skylight Music Hall above it. Forty-eight spectators can be accommodated on two levels of seating surrounding the stage.
When performances unfold, the sound through the hall and travels down to the rotunda through nine brass sound transmission tubes. A large retractable circular pneumatic roof crowns the Music Hall, introducing a natural skylight. When the weather is nice, this roof ascends to transform the Music Hall into an open-air theater.
The Meditation Rotunda on the lower floor is nine meters high. By leaving a fifty-centimeter- wide gap with operable glass panels at the corner of walls, natural light softly diffuses through the corner gaps below, as well as from the upper gaps around the suspended stage.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Arch-Exist.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Hao Chen.
Project description by Vector Architects
The Chapel of Music is the fourth architectural project completed by Vector Architects in the Aranya Qinhuangdao community. It stands in contrast to its predecessors, including the Seashore Library, Seashore Chapel, and Restaurant y Sea, all of which enjoy direct seafront locations.
The chapel is anchored within the heart of the community plaza, known as Youyi Bay. Positioned slightly north of the plaza's center, it neighbors the canteen and market to the north, the residential apartments to the west, together with the hotels and shops to the south.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Hao Chen.
We envision this chapel as an exquisite musical instrument landing on the plaza. By orchestrating sound, light, and air, we aim to create a new type of music hall space. The origin of the design stems from the section. We vertically arranged the Meditation Rotunda at the lower level, while the Skylight Music Hall on top of it at the upper level. The Music Hall has a sunken stage in the center. Viewed from the Meditation Rotunda, it appears like a suspended disc.
Surrounding the stage, seats for forty-eight spectators are laid out in two levels. As the performance unfolds, the sound fills the hall and transmits down to the rotunda through nine brass sound transmission tubes embedded among the seatings. The Music Hall is crowned with a large retractable circular pneumatic roof, introducing the skylight. In favorable weather conditions, the roof ascends, transforming the Music Hall into an outdoor theater.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Arch-Exist.
Chapel of Music by Vector Architects. Photograph by Zaiye Studio.
The Meditation Rotunda on the lower floor is nine meters high. By leaving a fifty-centimeter- wide gap with operable glass panels at the corner of walls, natural light softly diffuses through the corner gaps below, as well as from the upper gaps around the suspended stage. Polished concrete seatings are arranged along the wall, resembling a lounge chair allowing people to recline naturally, and immerse themselves into the music, natural light, and the permeating breeze. On this deliberate solid volume of the Chapel, we've incorporated a large view window at the eastern façade, providing the audience with an opportunity to gaze at the sea horizon beyond as they exit after the concert.
The chapel is centrally located within the community, with three distinct building facets respectively responding to the flows of people entering the plaza and the sea. The three concave curves of the chapel’s outer walls are delineated for a harmonious coexistence with the three groups of adjacent buildings on the plaza, jointly creating various public spaces with diverse atmospheres and scales. By elevating the building from the ground, the open character of the plaza is maintained while also providing a shelter for people to rest. The entrance lobby, located on the raised first floor, is accessible via a long ramp slightly offset and parallel to the building’s curving east wall. The ramp faces the canteen and market on the northern side, inviting people while guiding the way into the chapel for embarking on an exploration of music and space.
More information
Architects
Vector Architects. Principal Architect.- Gong Dong.
Project Architects.- Liangliang Zhao, Shida Liu.
Design Management.- Han Zhang, Jinteng Li.
Site Architects.- Zihao Zeng, Yeqian Tan.
Project Architects.- Liangliang Zhao, Shida Liu.
Design Management.- Han Zhang, Jinteng Li.
Site Architects.- Zihao Zeng, Yeqian Tan.
Project team
Zihao Zeng, Mofei Li, Liwen Zhang.
Collaborators
Structural Design.- Zhigang Ma, SuiPing Zhang, Lei Zhang.
MEP Design.- Xudong Qi, Fujun Zhang, Yafeng Wang, Xiaojie Liu, Weipeng Yu.
Local design institute Project Architect.- Chuanyu Lin.
Local design institute Architects.- Yue Jiang.
LDI.- Dalian Architectural Design & Research Institute Co.,Ltd.
Signage Designer.- Beijing SEED Cultural Media.
MEP Design.- Xudong Qi, Fujun Zhang, Yafeng Wang, Xiaojie Liu, Weipeng Yu.
Local design institute Project Architect.- Chuanyu Lin.
Local design institute Architects.- Yue Jiang.
LDI.- Dalian Architectural Design & Research Institute Co.,Ltd.
Signage Designer.- Beijing SEED Cultural Media.
Client
Aranya · Qinhuangdao.
Construction/Contractor
Jiangsu Jiangdu Construction Group Co., Ltd.
Area
GFA.- 455 m².
Footprint area.- 261 m².
Footprint area.- 261 m².
Dates
Design Period.- 2020.02 - 2021.05.
Construction Period.- 2021.03 - 2023.09.
Construction Period.- 2021.03 - 2023.09.
Location
Beidaihe New District, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China.
Photography
GONG DONG. VECTOR ARCHITECTS
GONG DONG, one of the most active young architects in China, received Bachelor & Master of Architecture from Tsinghua University, followed by a diploma at University of Illinois where he received the Master of Architecture. He also had an exchange experience at Technical University of Munich. During his study in America, Gong Dong received several awards including Excellence Award from Steedman Fellowship International Architectural Design Competition, 2000; First Prize from American Institute of Architects Chicago Chapter’s Student Design Competition,2001 and Excellence Award from Malama Learning Centre International Architecture Design Cmpetition,2002. Prior to establishing his own practice he worked for Soloman Cordwell Buenz & Associates in Chicago, then at Richard Meier & Partners and Steven Holl Architects in New York.
VECTOR ARCHITECTS was founded in 2008, Beijing. During seven years practice, we have always believed that design needs to confront problems, and it should be the attitude an architect ought to possess. Instead of enforcing architect's self-conscious or following icons and superficial forms, a good design has to respect the existing environment with support of logic and reasons. The contemporary Chinese design industry today is rather blundering that the rapid production and pursuit of landmark in height, size and form have become the main stream.
Architects no longer devote their effort for the fundamental and substantial truth of architecture. In this environment, the persistence of confronting problems remains essential and crucial. In every project, Vector Architects is devoted to discover the unrevealing relationship and various possibilities in existing context. Through our design, to create the new perception and experience which are exclusive to each project. The sense of ‘being here’ is uniquely established and reflected in percipient's emotion and action. Therefore, the space, being the vessel of living, has formed an irreplaceable connection between place and experience.
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