The Museum of Cantonese Opera Art / Architectural Design and Research Institute of SCUT + Architectural Designand Research Institute of Guangdong Province

Curated by 韩爽 - HAN Shuang

Architects: Architectural Designand Research Institute of Guangdong Province., The Research Institute of Historic Environment Conservation and Regeneration, South China University of Technology
Area: 17436 m²
Year: 2016
Photographs:Jing Guo, Chao Zhang, Zhixiong Zhao, Xiaoxue Li
Manufacturers: Hitachi Air Conditioning, Foshan Red Lion Ceramic, Mitsubishi Heavy-Haier
Lead Architects: Qian Guo
Interior Design: Guangzhou Seer Design Institute Co.Ltd.

Text description provided by the architects. In 2012, Guangzhou Municipal Government decided to build the Museum of Cantonese Opera Art in order to conserve and inherit the now endangered Cantonese Opera in Xiguan. Xiguan was a vital area for Cantonese Opera in the ancient city of Guangzhou and it is now the Liwan District.Cantonese Opera and Lingnan Garden were deeply rooted in this district.

The water, garden and tea-house culture in Xiguan had significantly influenced the development of Cantonese Opera; therefore, typical Cantonese Opera performance space extends into gardens and tea houses.To better inherit the traditions of Cantonese opera, the project explores the real "cultural space" through the existence of Cantonese opera culture from the perspective of Genius Loci.

In terms of architectural style, the atmosphere of the venue and the characteristics of the city combined with the value of opera’s history and culture make it clear that the best solution is to recreate a " Lingnan style traditional garden."

The proposition paid homage to the history of Cantonese Opera and Lingnan gardens. By combining the spiritual quintessence of Cantonese Opera and the functionality of Lingnan gardens, the resulting architecture and garden space sought to achieve a contemporary dia-logue between the two major cultural symbols of Lingnan across time and space.

Traditional garden in modern times
From the perspective of contemporary urban design, the project explores the relationship between traditional garden forms and the needs of the public. Constructing a traditional garden in a high-density city center increases urban public space and promotes public involvement. At the same time, the layout of the garden-styled museum is compatible with the existing urban tissue. Located in the heart of the old Guangzhou, the opera muse-um has become a new city landmark with the taste of ancient Xiguan.

The museum is divided into the north and south bank by Liwan canal. The main exhibition spaces and gardens occupy the south bank, while the additional service space occupies the periphery of the museum at the north bank. The space of the museum is articulated by a series of themed gardens.

The general layout of the museum is programed around a North-South axis centered at Wansha Lake scattered with six sub-garden spaces. The flow of water threads through six gardens, forming an organic unity. The space to the west of the longitudinal axis is for exhibitions and grand performances, while the east is for recreation, temporary exhibition, and small-scale performances.

The functions of the Cantonese Opera Art Museum is providing spaces for exhibitions,performances, education, research,public usage and everyday life in Guangzhou. All in all, inheritance and development of the Cantonese Opera art is the core objective of the museum.

Living Inheritance
The Museum of Cantonese Opera Art is a traditional Lingnan architecture that utilizes modern construction methods. Not only did it re-invent the wood clad steel construction, the architecture dramatized the “Lingnan-garden” atmosphere by combining traditional Cantonese wood carving, Chaozhou wood carving, brick carving, stone carving, clay sculpture, Shiwan pottery sculpture with contemporary arts and crafts, without overshadowing any of the traditional Lingnan architectural form.

To visitors, the museum itself offers a comprehensive experience of immersing in the Cantonese Opera culture, Lingnan traditional crafts, and metropolitan life. Therefore, the Cantonese Opera Art Museum simultaneously conserves, exhibits and inherits the intangible cultural heritage.

Respecting the environment and life style of the Cantonese locals, and the close relationship between Cantonese Opera and traditional landscape, this design proposition meticulously set the constructions along the Liwan bay, featuring the gorgeous and extraordinary opera art and culture of Lingnan, providing a lively and historical space for their living inheritance.