The new Xiqu Chinese Opera Centre is planned for the district of Kowloon in Hong Kong. Located opposite the cosmopolitan island of Hong Kong, this urban area has its own small-scale identity. The stacked and partly cantilevered complex connects to the area’s dense urban fabric on different levels, thus integrating the city with the building in a unique way.
The layered composition of Xiqu Centre organises the professional theatre functions on the lower floors and the educational functions, including the foyer, black box theatre, two teahouses with panoramic views and hospitality and retail outlets, on the upper floors.
New Temple Square, a public square, is inserted between these sections at a height of twenty metres, and connects to the adjacent building via a pedestrian bridge. An alternating rhythm of glass and steel louvres on the facade depicts images of Chinese Opera.
On the ground floor, the double-height transparent foyer of the main theatre offers views of the activity beyond. The fly tower of the main theatre is surrounded by a multimedia facade that colours and enlivens the elevated square.
Thanks to a series of huge perimeter columns, the square becomes a vast open space 12 metres in height. The main theatre features a proscenium stage with optimal sightlines and acoustics, and balconies that lend the theatre a compact and intimate atmosphere.
The black box theatre is situated high up in the building, connected with the educational functions. Designed with maximum flexibility in mind, the theatre can be easily reconfigured and can thus accommodate a wide range of performances.