Hidden Dragon: Immersive Theatre to be Built in China according to the Project of the Architectural Studio IND Architects

Moscow architectural studio IND architects in a consortium with the Chinese bureau DA! won an international competition to create the concept of the immersive theatre and the Shuanglong Lane Immersive Theatre museum in the ancient capital of China, the city of Kaifeng in Henan Province.

The international competition for the creation of Shuanglong Lane Immersive Theatre and Museum was held from March to June 2020. The competition was attended by 100 architectural bureaus and about 500 architects from all over the world. The participants were given a task to fit the building into the architecture of the historical district.

The architectural studio IND architects was invited to participate, as it had previously won a competition to create the concept of the Xingfu Village Pan-Museum in Sichuan Province in China. The jury consisting of Chinese artists, architects, designers and representatives of the government of the country gave the victory to the project of the theatre presented by the Russian and Chinese architects.

"Modern cultural institutions are not elitist, they are friendly, open to citizens and exist in an inextricable connection with the city. Such is our project of the theatre complex with the museum. We are not just designing the theatre, but reprogramming the surrounding urban area. We open the theatre to the citizens, the new building is inextricably linked with the existing urban context, is an organic part of the street, as if flowing into it. The interactive museum in the theatre house introduces the history and culture of the city. The area is already undergoing reconstruction - the historical brickwork is being restored, architectural objects and theatre will become the epicenter of the cultural life of this territory," said Amir Idiatulin, founder and CEO of the architectural studio IND architects.

The theme of Chinese dragons is stylistically played out in the formation of the theatre space. The new building has two parts: the first is a five-story block with ramps and elevators, which communicates with the historical building of the museum, the second has two floors, including the underground, with a theatre, halls for workshops, lectures and a food court. The project uses materials characteristic of China - wood, concrete, bamboo for landscaping, bright lanterns for decor.