XIQU CENTRE
DAVID SMITH
High
culture
Chinese opera has a distinctive
new home with acoustics
tailored to its needs, and a main
theater raised away from the
bustle of Hong Kong
6 AUDITORIA 2019 VOLUME ONE
V enelin Kokalov, design
principal at Vancouver’s Revery
Architecture, was given a lot
of freedom when tasked with
creating a US$347m Chinese
opera (xiqu) house for the West Kowloon
Cultural District in Hong Kong. Kokalov and his
team – which included architects from local firm
Ronald Lu and Partners – were advised that the
venue had to be iconic and world-class, a gateway
for the new complex of 17 arts and cultural
centers, but otherwise they could use their
imaginations freely. For inspiration, Kokalov
immersed himself in the unfamiliar sound world
of xiqu, speaking with scholars and attending
performances. What he discovered was that all
Chinese culture is infused with the spirit of Qi,
or energy flow, and he resolved to introduce this
philosophy of Qi into every aspect of the design.
“We used flowing lines for the façade, lobbies,
interiors and the main theater, which embraced
the whole idea of Qi, and we encouraged the
flowing movement of people through the space,”
says Kokalov. “At the same time, we wanted to
translate Qi into a new urban form. It’s hard
to copy the old masters so we resolved to start
from scratch and create something unique that
responds to the needs of a new generation.”
Photos: Ema Peter