丨中国雅安丨ZXD Architects

Ya’an Panda Performance Center / ZXD Architects

Architects:

ZXD Architects

Area:

27878 m²

Year:

2024

Photographs:

Zhepeng Zhang

Chief Architect:

Zhu Xiaodi

Team:

Liang Liu, Tiangang Ma, Ruyi Xiao

Performance Operator:

Usunhome Cultural Development Co., Ltd

Client:

Ya’an Culture and Tourism Group

City:

Yaan

Country:

China

Ya’an Panda Performance Center, designed by ZXD Architects in Ya’an, China, features two cradle-shaped volumes symbolizing a panda mother and cub. The larger volume, at the center of the site, houses the 1,200-seat performance hall, while the smaller volume on the right contains actor dormitories, rehearsal halls, and auxiliary spaces. Both structures incorporate sloping green roofs with local plants to reduce maintenance costs. Visitors enter through a sunken square, leading to a tall, open lobby with a bamboo-like green vertical façade, evoking the pandas’ natural habitat. The interior layout guides the audience from a preliminary auditorium to the main performance hall, designed for immersive performances. The façade, made of perforated aluminum panels, creates a “furry” texture through cantilevered 6:1 long-strip panels arranged in a staggered double-layer pattern, with internal LED lighting for night displays. A second-floor staircase leads to the green roof, where viewing platforms connect visitors with nature and the surrounding landscape.

The architects designed two cradle-like volumes for the project: one large and one small. The larger volume, positioned at the center of the site, accommodates the primary performance space, while the smaller volume, situated to the right of the main building, houses actor dormitories, rehearsal halls, and auxiliary functions. Both structures feature sloping sections that present the roofs to the audience. Covered with local plants, the sloping roofs utilize the region’s abundant rainfall to reduce maintenance costs. The two volumes are connected, forming a shape that evokes the image of a panda mother and her cub.

To preserve the integrity of the main building, the architects positioned the entrance within a sunken square, where visitors descend a series of steps to reach a tall, open lobby. This design approach enhances the audience’s spatial experience and fosters enthusiasm for participation. The lobby functions as a space for visitors to rest, pass through security checks, and verify tickets, while also providing a sheltered buffer zone from Ya’an’s frequent rain. The main façade facing the lobby features multiple green vertical grids, creating the impression of entering a mysterious bamboo forest. As bamboo is the primary food of pandas, this design element also hints that the upcoming performances will be panda-themed.

Passing through the lobby, the audience enters a preliminary auditorium where they can watch various related performances before proceeding to the main performance hall, which contains 1,200 seats. The large stage wraps around the seating area, providing an immersive performance experience.

The building’s façade is composed of perforated aluminum panels. To emphasize a “furry” texture, each perforated aluminum panel is designed as a 6:1 long strip, with the front and middle sections fixed to the internal measuring keel, while the rear section extends outward in a cantilevered form, creating a feather-like effect. This construction method resolves the challenge between large surface areas and detailed craftsmanship, simplifies complex 3D modeling into 2D positioning, and lowers both costs and construction difficulty. The aluminum panels are arranged in a double-layer staggered pattern, producing three levels of “transparency” through the semi-transparent visual properties of the perforated material. Moreover, internal LED lights are installed to create special lighting effects during nighttime.

The audience can access the green roof via a staircase designed on the second floor. The roof features two viewing platforms, offering visitors scenic overlooks. As they explore the rooftop, the surrounding greenery seamlessly connects with the distant lush mountains and forests, creating an immersive natural experience. This design allows visitors to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and reconnect with nature.

Project Location

Address:

Ya’an, Sichuan Province, China

Architect

Anton Giuroiu

Anton is a RIBA accredited architect, when he's offline, he spends his time with the sculpta.ba architecture practice or in the MKR.S crafting studio, laser engraving and laser cutting architecture models. In his free time he geeks over taking care of his pencil and mechanical pencil collection.

Expertises:

Architecture, Interior design, Home improvement, Drawing, Laser machining