Situated on the banks of Taihu Lake in Taihu Lake City, Jiangsu Province, China, the design of the Wuxi Taihu Theater draws inspiration from Yixing Bamboo Sea Park, the largest bamboo forest in China. This 2,000-seat theater is the permanent home for water performances created by Franco Dragone. The theater officially opened on November 22, 2019.
The building’s exterior is defined by three primary elements: columns, sunshades, and maintenance structures. Reflecting the essence of a bamboo forest, slender white columns encircle the building, creating a visual barrier between the facade and the surrounding landscape. These ‘bamboo poles’ frame various entrances, guiding visitors into the theater.
The sunshade crowns the building’s roof edge, symbolizing the leafy canopy of a bamboo forest. It consists of triangular window structures fitted with rows of golden anodized aluminum louvers. Each window pane is oriented randomly, producing dynamic light and shadow effects on the facade throughout the day, imbuing the building with an organic character. The louvers are angled differently, creating a sense of movement when viewed from various perspectives.
Structurally, each louver panel is mounted on a triangular frame supported atop the columns, which transfers its load to the building’s main structure. The sunshades and columns also serve an environmental purpose by shading the facade, thereby reducing the building’s cooling requirements. The envelope primarily features painted blocks and glass curtain walls. The full-height glass curtain walls in the entrance hall and above maximize visibility into public areas. These glass sections are subdivided by high white and gold stripes, mimicking bamboo poles and enhancing the building’s connection to the surrounding bamboo forest.
At night, the surrounding structure is illuminated from below, transforming it into a glowing beacon. The softly lit bamboo-like columns emerge from the darkness, drawing visitors from the lake and nearby areas toward the theater.
Project Drawings
▲ General layout plan
▲ Plan view
▲ Sectional view
Project Information
Project Type: Theater
Location: China
Architectural Design: SCA | Steven Chilton Architects
Year Completed: 2019
Photographer: Kris Provoost
Owner: Sunac Group
Architecture and Design Management: Sunac Group
Concept Engineer: Buro Happold Engineering
Theater Consultant: Auerbach Pollock Friedlander
Display Design: Dragone
Local Design Institute: Tongji Architectural Design and Research Institute
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