The Beijing-based architecture studio, Open Architecture is building a boulder-shaped concert hall in a valley north of Beijing that is famous for hosting remnants of the Ming Dynasty’s Great wall, for its client Aranya. The concert hall, named “Chapel of Sound,” is being designed to look, as described by the studio’s website, “as if a strange and prehistoric boulder had fallen there long ago.”Describing their new project Open Architecture said that the semi-outdoor concert hall rests on the floor of the valley and is being entirely made of concrete mixed with an aggregate of crushed local mineral-rich rocks. Currently, under construction, the hall’s inverted conical structure houses a semi-outdoor amphitheater, an outdoor stage, viewing platforms, and supporting spaces.According to the studio, though the structure has been shaped acoustically for music performances, the hall can also be used as a space for contemplation and community gatherings. The large opening on the structure’s top, together with small openings of varied shapes cut into its walls, bring in stunning views of the sky and surrounding valley, as well as the different sounds of nature.According to the website of the studio, “When there is no scheduled concert, no choir or instruments playing, the hall still remains a destination, one at which to quietly listen to the sound of birds singing, insects chirping, gentle breezes rustling through nearby trees, or raindrops on the floor. Inside this mysterious space, nature orchestrates an ever-changing symphony. It is a chapel of sound.”The Beijing-based studio looked at ancient rock formations and shells when designing the irregular form of the “Chapel of Sound.” “The layered form of the building takes inspiration from the sedimentary rock formations of the surrounding mountains while asserting the human hands involved in its construction and avoiding mere mimicry of natural rock. Against the backdrop of the rough and cave-like space, details designed with care and warmth offer quiet comfort as visitors take respite in both natural and musical sound,” states the website of Open Architecture.Visitors will also be invited to venture up the structure’s winding staircases to find a rooftop plateau offering impressive views of the valley landscape and the Great Wall. Set to open later this year, this latest project has already won the studio a citation from the Progressive Architecture Awards, which champion innovative thinking in architecture.Open Architecture is a passionate team of designers, headed by Li Hu and Huang Wenjing. It was established in Beijing in 2008. https://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder: Louise Blouin
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