Vector Architects designs concave Chapel of Music for Chinese seaside resort

by : Kate Donaldson

Chinese studio Vector Architects has completed a monolithic, concrete concert hall in the coastal resort of Aranya in Qinhuangdao.

Located centrally within the town’s public square, the three-pronged concrete structure was designed as an intimate space for musical performances.

Site view of The Chapel of Music in Aranya China — *Vector Architects has designed a concrete music hall in Aranya*

“We envision this chapel as an exquisite musical instrument landing onto the plaza,” Vector Architects told Dezeen. “We think that echoes can form a unique sound landscape, like the Chinese Echo Wall. By orchestrating sound, light and air, we aim to create a new type of music hall.”

Concave facade of The Chapel of Music in Aranya China — *The concave structure was informed by Beijing’s reverberating Echo Wall*

Vector Architects conceived the Chapel of Music as a series of vertical layers, with a nine-metre-high reflection room placed below the main amphitheatre.

Holes drilled into the floor slab and fitted with brass “sound transmission tubes” allow music played above to filter into the room underneath.

Raised entrance ramp for The Chapel of Music in Aranya China — *The chapel can be entered via a curving, elevated ramp. Photo by Chen Hao*

“As the performance unfolds, the sound fills the hall and transmits down to the rotunda through nine brass sound transmission tubes embedded among the seats.”

Upper level concert hall in The Chapel of Music in Aranya China — *The circular auditorium encloses a sunken stage at its centre*

“The music hall is crowned with a retractable, circular pneumatic roof,” the studio said.

“In favourable weather conditions, the roof ascends, transforming the music hall into an outdoor theatre.”

Outside the amphitheatre’s wooden doors, the studio placed a large window for audiences to connect with the nearby sea as they exit.

In the reflection room on the lower level, natural light is drawn into the space and onto the expressed formwork concrete through open corners and the suspended stage above.

Seating and sound transmission tubes in The Chapel of Music in Aranya China — *The amphitheatre accommodates 48 people. The Photo is by Chen Hao*

“Polished concrete seats are arranged along the wall, resembling a lounge chair and allowing people to recline naturally, immersing themselves into the music, natural light and the permeating breeze.”

Lower level rotunda in The Chapel of Music in Aranya China — *Nine brass transmission tubes diffuse sound from the concert hall into the room below. Photo by Chen Hao*

The Chapel of Music joins a trilogy of buildings completed by Vector Architects, which was founded in 2008 by architect Dong Gong, for the Aranya resort since 2015.

These include a cast-concrete library facing the East China Sea, a raised chapel built along the beach and a sprawling restaurant with greenery-filled courtyards.

The photography is by Arch-Exist unless otherwise stated.

This article is originally available at www.dezeen.com