The order of disappearance, the freedom of manifestation.
The balance between nature and artificiality.
A dialogue between stage and life.
Integrating the experience of terrain with the body.
01 / Theater in Nature
Yada Theater is situated by Yangxian Lake in Yixing, Jiangsu Province, near the Yixing Bamboo Sea Tourist Resort. Surrounded by rolling mountains and dense bamboo forests, it stands as a cultural landmark of Yada Yangxian Xishan Town. Serving the town’s 5,000 households, it is the most important comprehensive performance space in the area.
This design aims to create a public venue that is both iconic and inviting, while preserving the natural ecology and cultural heritage of its location. The architects explore a new type of performance space—a ‘theater in nature’—that harmonizes a striking architectural presence with an immersive natural experience.
△ Realistic view of the main facade of Yada Theater
02 / Two Guiding Principles
The design is driven by two core questions: “What do the mountains want?” and “What do people need?” This approach moves beyond simply addressing functional requirements like performance, seating, and support services. Instead, the architects integrate the physical experience of the terrain with human needs, crafting a coherent spatial order that blends nature and architecture.
△ Architecture and environment integration
△ Solid model showing flow line design that follows the terrain; lightweight coverage creates a fluid underlying space
Using this concept, the theater’s inner and outer boundaries are transformed into several open-air courtyards. A local wind and rain corridor connects these courtyards, forming a freely navigable walkway that respects the natural topography. The design preserves the mountain’s original slope, while the limited building coverage maintains a light, flowing space that invites people to connect with nature.
△ Courtyard scene
△ Courtyard scene
The pedestrian network creates scenarios where visitors constantly move between built structures and the natural environment. This concept echoes classical Chinese gardens and reflects an Eastern philosophy of nature: on a modern scale, architecture is not a rigid entity but a “micro-nature” that blends with the landscape; on a larger scale, architecture maintains a clear, recognizable form as a cultural symbol. From afar, the volumes appear detached to emphasize nature, while close-up views reveal geometry dissolving into the scenery. Artificial and natural elements engage in a dynamic dialogue on multiple levels.
△ Dynamic display of courtyard scene
△ Courtyard scene
03 / Stage, Community, Nature
Traditionally, watching performances has been a refined activity with specific rituals, designed for limited audiences and specialized venues. At Yada Theater, the architects envision a cultural space that belongs to the entire community, encouraging diverse public interactions to develop naturally.
△ Courtyard scene
△ Lighting changes inside the hall
One key design strategy is to maintain transparency between the theater’s interior and its natural surroundings. The main stage features an innovative 21-meter floor-to-ceiling glass curtain wall that faces the landscape, offering two stage modes: a transparent mode that brings nature onto the stage for concerts, and a framed mode where a screen drops down to support theatrical performances.
△ Main stage facing the mountains and waters
The 530-seat auditorium is arranged along the natural slope of the terrain, continuing the mountain experience for visitors. Advanced acoustic engineering ensures the hall suits various events, including concerts, theatrical performances, conferences, and film screenings. Meanwhile, the mountainous courtyards serve as everyday spaces for the community to play, socialize, and relax.
△ Interior view of the performance hall
△ Sectional view of Yada Theater stage
Functionally and emotionally, Yada Theater serves as a “cultural living room,” fostering dialogue and dynamic interaction between diverse community life and formal stage culture.
△ Realistic view of the stage’s glass curtain wall
04 / Interior Theme: Bamboo
Yixing is known for its unique natural resources and cultural traditions—not only famous for its bamboo sea but also regarded as the “capital of pottery” in China. Bamboo and pottery cultures are the main inspirations for the interior design, which centers around a “bamboo” theme.
The walls of the performance hall are mainly constructed using bamboo and wood materials. Natural bamboo fibers are processed into various forms such as boards and strips, offering excellent environmental sustainability and aesthetics. The architect designed a random vertical wrinkled texture to metaphorically evoke a bamboo forest, aiming to resonate emotionally with the audience.
△ Indoor lobby
△ Indoor lobby
The suspended ceiling features bamboo-textured metal prefabricated components inspired by traditional bamboo weaving techniques. Geometric and topological shapes are extracted and designed to create a simple yet refined visual effect.
△ Indoor lobby
△ Interior view of the performance hall
Dominated by bamboo tones, the design includes local dark woven metal panels enriched with golden lines to add spatial depth. The architectural, interior, and landscape designs were all integrated by GOA Elephant Design. Specialized elements such as lighting, curtain walls, and stage acoustics were also overseen by the GOA architecture team, ensuring a cohesive and innovative outcome.
△ Ceiling module generation and interior facade texture
△ Interior facade texture
05 / Exterior Skin: Sky Blue Ceramic Panels
The exterior design highlights the “pottery” theme, featuring glazed ceramic panels locally fired in Yixing. The sky blue glaze offers a rich luster that subtly shifts in color with natural light and viewing distance, adding a dynamic quality to the building’s appearance.
△ Realistic architectural appearance
The architect selected a variety of ceramic panel textures, including wide and narrow vertical bamboo joint patterns and smooth flat surfaces, all custom-sized at 750mm x 1800mm. This approach maintains a cohesive composition inside and out, while the collage technique reduces the visual mass and enhances the layered complexity.
△ Sky blue ceramic panel facade
△ Sky blue ceramic panel facade
△ Sky blue ceramic panel facade
The specially designed bamboo texture boards integrate traditional motifs within the building’s modern style. The ribbed lines between grooves complement the building’s overall flat, geometric appearance.
△ Facade texture collage
△ Bamboo knot texture
△ Rich collage variations
Ceramic panels are made from high-temperature-fired natural clay, offering recyclability and excellent environmental performance. Their smooth, dense surface provides self-cleaning properties, contributing to long-term energy conservation and reducing maintenance costs.
△ Architecture and environment
06 / Conclusion: Stage Amid Mountains and Forests
What do the mountains want? What do people need? The architect envisions Yada Theater as a sanctuary connecting humans with nature—a place where visitors can slow down, observe the changing sunshine, rain, snow, and seasons, and appreciate the beauty of art and life.
As a welcoming cultural living room for every resident, Yada Theater is not only a highly anticipated stage but also an attentive audience, observing people and nature alike.
Project drawings
Project Information
Project Name: Yada Theater
Master Plan: Goa Elephant Design
Architecture, Landscape & Interior Design: Goa Elephant Design
Location: Yixing City, Jiangsu Province
Design / Completion: 2018 / 2021
Building Area: 5,000 square meters
Image Credits: Goa Elephant Design, Aoguan Architectural Vision
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