Aranya Theatre

Aranya Theatre sits on the Golden Coast in Qinhuangdao, Hebei, at the heart of Aranya town's sixth phase. The project occupies an irregular site at the intersection of two main roads; one side faces the sea across a dune, while the other three sides abut apartment buildings. How to handle the theatre's relationship with the sea, the block and neighboring buildings, and how to shape urban space, are the design's key questions. Breaking the whole into parts: the building comprises three theatres, Theatre A, the Hive Theatre and the Dionysus Theatre, each occupying a corner of the site. Theatre A and the Hive, one large and one small, continue the urban relationships along the two streets, joined in the middle by a foyer. The outdoor Dionysus Theatre sits at the corner, linking both streets and drawing urban space inward. By dividing into three volumes, the design dissolves the conflict between an overly large building and surrounding scales, blending architecture and city. The three theatres have different programs: the 300-seat Hive hosts professional drama, including Meng Jinghui Studio works and avant-garde experimental theatre, with professional equipment and acoustics; Theatre A has 550 movable seats and, with its tall, solemn space, accommodates everything from drama to concerts, exhibitions, performances and car shows, providing a multi-functional venue for community cultural and public life.