Xiqu Centre | Ronald Lu & Partners

The Chinese Opera (Xiqu) Centre will be the first of 17 core arts and cultural venues to be opened within the District. The venue will deliver a world-class facility for the communities to interact, develop, produce the finest examples of Cantonese and other Chinese opera performances, attract new audiences, educate and collaborate with and host international cultural programmes. Occupying a prime site of 13,800 square metres at the eastern edge of the West Kowloon Cultural District, at the junction of Canton Road and Austin Road, the centre will act as a gateway of access to the District. It houses two superbly designed auditoria which will seat 1,100 and 400 respectively (the latter to be developed in Phase 2). It also incorporates a generous amount of public leisure space, in addition to a traditional Tea House with a performance stage for audiences up to 280. Early concept designs illustrate that the building will provide a striking entrance, resembling the curtain of a theatre stage. It employs the Moongate traditional Chinese motif and a dynamic treatment of the facade and one may see that the flow or “qi” is expressed with curvilinear paths and forms. Reflecting the essence of xiqu and embodying important concept from the art form, the design centers on four core design principles: a gateway and performance pavilion: a courtyard; nature and the urban landscape; and a journey of transition and flow. Like the soft glow of a lantern behind a bead curtain, the Centre will light up the District. Sustainability also forms an important element in the design. For example, natural ventilation is preserved; light is softened to avoid light pollution. By using architecture and engineering solutions the Centre strives for lower energy consumption. The project is scheduled for commission in end of 2016 and will open to the public in 2017.