Located in Lizigou Village, Luoyang City, Henan Province, China, architects Key Wang (KEYWORKS) and Zhang Renran (Renjian Architecture) collaboratively designed a red brick natural auditorium. This space serves as a ceremonial public venue for the local community.
The project originated in 2017 when a local couple, deeply connected to their hometown, invited us to visit. During the design phase, we spent several months living among the villagers, gaining invaluable insights into their lifestyle. Over three years of research, design, and construction allowed us to develop a nuanced understanding of rural life as it shifts with the seasons.
The main challenge was to preserve local traditions while introducing new value for both villagers and visitors. We aimed to create a shared foundation that encourages sustainable ecological development. Through design, we sought to elevate the community’s cultural, economic, and social vibrancy.
Our vision was to craft a building that honors the region’s early agricultural civilization—a place for making wishes, performing rituals to heaven and earth, and expressing gratitude. Simultaneously, it was important to create a spiritual space that reflects the passage of time.
Extensive site research revealed early local dwellings such as earthen kilns, alongside later red brick homes featuring arches. We embraced this architectural language, rich with emotional resonance, and adapted it for contemporary spatial design, exploring new modes of expression.
Besides the ceremonial hall, the natural auditorium includes supporting buildings where visitors and villagers can live, read, study, relax, draw, farm, and cook—fully immersing themselves in local life.
The Red Brick Nature Hall is nestled between mountains and ponds, adjacent to the village path. Its red brick walls guide visitors along the path toward the cylindrical corner building, opening onto an entrance plaza.
Visitors enter through a series of five brick-arched porticos leading to cylindrical structures. Above the inserted space, a circular roof forms a clear architectural statement. The curved exterior wall of the ceremony hall extends inward beneath the circular roof, softening the spatial boundaries and gradually guiding visitors toward the open countryside entrance.
The semi-circular ceremonial hall is situated behind the porch. Its open roof and steel beam framework create a dynamic space for light and shadow performances, where light marks the passage of time like the hands of a clock.
Project Drawings
△ General layout plan
△ First floor plan
△ Elevation and section views
△ Elevation and detailed drawings
△ Analysis chart
Project Information
Architects: KEYWORKS, Reng Architecture
Area: 1,241 m²
Year of Completion: 2019
Photographers: Sun Weichuan, Zhang Lin, Key Wang
Manufacturers: China Aluminum Hengmei Aluminum, Henan Juxing Building Materials Co., Ltd., Luoyang North Glass Group
Lead Architects: Key Wang, Zhang Renran
Design Team: Key Wang, Zhang Renran, Zhang Xiaoxing, Lai Erxun, Shi Xintong, Liu Xinpeng
Structural Design: Zhang Xiaoxing
Landscape Design: Fan Xueyi
Construction Company: Luoyang Wanyuan Construction and Installation Engineering Co., Ltd
Partners: Fan Xueyi, Gao Xiaowu, Zhang Lin
Principal: Luoyang Shuxin Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd
Location: Luoyang City, China
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