REBIRTH
Reconstruction of Shekou Theatre
Shenzhen, China
Professional Work, 2020
1st place, Shekou Theatre Reconstruction Competition
Team members | Zhenyuan Yang (Lead architect), Hao Du
Role in Team | Responsible for interior space design
Shekou Theatre was built in the 1980s and is a memory of local residents. With the rapid development of Shekou area, several large theatres and cinemas have been built within two kilometers of the surrounding area. Due to its scale and equipment limitations, Shekou Theatre is no longer suitable for the current needs. In the design, it was transformed into a community center.
We proposed a new building to facilitate connection with adjoining public gardens and streets. Also, the new building will provide a venue for a multitude of uses; from small group activities to allowing space for exhibition and community parties. In the past, Shekou Theatre was a place for people to meet and relax in their spare time. It was a link between residents. In our proposal, reconstruction of the old building is not to erase the memory, but to help nourish community bonds with a more open, comfortable, and friendly space.
The old theatre consists of a square main building with an auditorium and a triangular annex. The main entrance is located on the south and east side of the building.
When I first walked into the old theater, I was moved by the soaring interior space, the spotlights on the stage, and the red curtains. In the new building, the original auditorium was transformed into a new atrium. People sit around casually on the ground floor with sunlight shining through the wrinkled, perforated mesh.
The diagram shows the demolition of the wall at ground floor plan. The original structure of the building was retained in the design. The renovation will follow the original spatial structural framework.
The ground floor opens to the street and park, and the new community center is an open space that accommodates diverse activities among people.
