Yada Theatre by Yang Xiu Lake is more than just a building it is a narrative of the intersection of nature, geometry, and light. With a minimalist language and structured, enclosed forms, this project creates a space suspended between stillness and dynamism. The transparent glass facade, combined with turquoise ceramic surfaces, resembles a thin layer of water enveloping the building, as if the architecture extends into the lake, blurring the boundary between the artificial and the natural. However, this elegance in lighting design has posed specific challenges, particularly in managing unwanted reflections and ensuring even light distribution across the ceramic surfaces. The intelligent design, the use of the DMX512 protocol, and the synchronization of lighting with the surrounding landscape have resolved this issue, allowing the light to softly and uniformly embrace the building rather than appearing harsh or intrusive. At night, the structure glows like a lantern in the mist serene and luminous, yet never overwhelming to the eye.
Entering the interior evokes the feeling of a poetic journey through illuminated bamboo groves. The combination of wood and 3000K lighting creates a visual and sensory warmth, transforming the space from a cold, impersonal theater into an organic and inviting experience. The perforated ceiling and scattered small lights, resembling a starry sky, establish a visual rhythm that guides the viewer’s gaze and turns the interior into a piece of performance art itself. This design choice not only enhances aesthetics but also contributes to the sense of scale rather than diminishing the ceiling height, it adds depth and dimension. The glass backdrop behind the stage is a striking and unexpected moment in the design: a living frame of nature that extends the stage beyond the conventional boundaries of theater. This decision creates a harmonious dialogue between performing arts and the surrounding landscape, offering an unparalleled experience for the audience.
From a critical perspective, one might argue that this project relies more on visual coherence and control rather than movement and sensory experience. While its beauty is undeniable, there is a certain static quality to its form that might have been more dynamic if enriched with more varied and flexible layers. Additionally, the transition between the exterior and interior spaces could have been more fluid. Although the transparent facade addresses this to some extent, the passage from the outside to the inside still feels somewhat formal and rigid. Ultimately, Yada Theatre is not merely a performance space it is a spatial experience, where light, material, and nature come together to create a living work of art. If one were to seek inspiration for this building, it could be likened to the tranquil reflection of a lake nestled within bamboo forests a place where reflection and reality intertwine, and the boundary between them is defined solely by light.
Brand : Tongji Architectural Design (Group) Co . , Ltd
Designers : Yang Xiu, Chen Xingru, Xu Xiaqing, Du Yiting, Cai Wenjing, Lue Jiani, Cai Rong
Photo Credits : AOGVISION
Prize: LIT Lighting Design Award
