Project: North Bund AIA Grand Theatre
Award: Publicly Accessible Interiors - Cinemas, Theatres & Concert Halls, 2024
Location: Shanghai, China
Design Practice: HPP Architects
Client: AIA
The interior design concept for the North Bund AIA Grand Theatre in Shanghai was a shining and transparent crystal jewellery box, echoing the artistic pearl image associated with the city’s North Bund riverside heritage area.
The project's interior design area covers a vast 13,042 square metres, with the theatre spanning three floors above ground and two floors below. The second-floor side hall of the theatre connects with the surrounding commercial and office areas and includes a ticketing area and a snacks area. The foyer and theatre use factory prefabricated Glass Reinforced Gypsum (GRG), shortening the construction period and improving precision control.
Design highlights
The foyer, themed "the growth marks of a shell," features three-storey high, stripe-like decorative surfaces simulating the growth textures of a shell. The auditorium, designed to accommodate an audience of around 1,700, features ceiling and wall designs inspired by the exterior of a treasure, with continuous undulating forms that also improve the acoustic experience of the space.
Photo credit: AST Studio
HPP PARTNER, CHIEF DESIGNER: Jens Kump
HPP PARTNER: Yu Wei
HPP DESIGN DIRECTOR: Jiang Xinling
DESIGN TEAM MEMBERS: Amanda Xu, Jiang Yan, Liu Cheng, Song Zhitao, Danny Huang, Xie Chunli, Gu Bowen, Yang Di,Li Mengyuan, Wang Xiaorong,Wang Xiaolei, Zhang Zhixuan,Ye Jiacheng, Shen Jiajun.
ACOUSTIC CONSULTANT: ECADI Acoustics and Theatre Research Institute
THEATRE CONSULTANT: I.dea Energy Technologies Group
OPERATING FIRM: Shanghai Hongkou Poly Grand Theatre Management Co., Ltd